Part 9: A Strange Addition

square.
At the base of the pillar of truth there is a strange extension which would appear to be an ornarr.entation on the pillar. I suspect this is not allegoric, but, at the first level, a sort of signature or self­ portrait of the artist. There is a huge mouth at the base level capable of a grin but going the other way. In 1536 or so, Michelangelo did a self portrait in his picture of the last judgement (in much the same position relative to the whole) and in Holbein's picture of Christina of Denmark (1539) he has discernibly presented himself (again on the lower right hand side) in the folds of her dress. We may have here a clue to the painter, but if this is what is going on, we have left behind the allegorical meaning of things and come to a literal level.