The
fake “miracle” of the crucifix given to Dr. Hislop:
This
excerpt is from the online book that analyzes Sai Baba’s “miracles”. It can be
read in the “Sai EXPOSE websites” link.
58
- Another Version Of Sai Baba's Remark:
In 1973, Sai Baba produced a small crucifix, gave it to his disciple named Dr.
Hislop, and, according to Dr. Hislop, said, "this
shows Christ as He really was at the time when He left his body. No writer or
artist has imagined him this way before."
Eastern View, p. 7
As for the claim Sai Baba makes that the crucifix "shows Christ as he
really was at the time he left his body, not as artists have imagined him or as
historians have told about him", and "no writer or artist has
imagined him this way before," the following are comments from Uno
Langmann, a highly reputable art, antique, and curio dealer headquartered in
Vancouver B.C., and Dr. William S. Dale, Professor Emeritus in Fine Arts at the
University of Western Ontario, upon inspection of the full page magnified
colour photograph of the crucifix reproduced at p. xi (Plate 2) of Dr. Hislop's
book, My Baba & I:
59 - Uno Langmann's Comments on the Crucifix:
Judging from the photograph, the sculpture would be an ordinary inexpensive
crucifixion depiction. The material of the Christ figure would probably be of
soft metal such as pewter or lead. Of course this is hard to tell from a
photograph. It might be bronze or conceivably silver, but neither of these is
likely. The casting is cheap and not very skillful, which supports the idea
that the material would be lead perhaps. You can see little air bubbles around
the feet which indicates that it was made by cheap plaster of Paris mold. The
sculpture is affixed to the wood by small manufactured nails. The rendering of
the feet and toes is especially coarse, which also indicates the cheapness of
the piece. The wood appears to be low-grade hardwood of some sort. Finally, as
to the image itself, it is a typical artistic conception of the crucifixion. I
believe I have seen this sculpture image before. I would guess that it's a
medieval European representation originally perhaps 12th or 13th century. At
least that would be a period to check. In this miniature reproduction form it
would not be a particularly interesting piece.
Uno Langmann, personal
communication, 1988
60 - William S. Dale's Comments on the Crucifix:
Dear Friends,
Your letter of February 8, enclosing the material on Sai Baba and the
miraculously-produced crucifix, has arrived, and I have studied it with great
interest.
From the photograph it is quite clear that the metal figure closely resembles
those on crucifixes of the 19th and early 20th centuries (As is normal with
these, the suppedaneum is cast in one piece with the figure.) Its small scale suggests
that it may once have been attached to a rosary.
Contrary to Sai Baba's claim, there is nothing unusual about the iconography of
the piece. The representation of the dead Christ, his body sagging, his head
drooping onto his right shoulder, and his eyes closed, is frequently found in
monumental crucifixes after the 10th century. From the late 12th century one
foot is placed over the other, and a single nail is used to fasten both to the
cross, instead of one for each foot. By the middle of the 13th century the
braided crown of thorns becomes a prominent feature, and in some examples the
stomach is drawn in, showing the ribs.
As for the statement that this crucifix "shows Christ as he really was at
the time he left his body", it has been demonstrated that nails through
the palms of the hands, as in the artistic convention followed here, could not
have supported the weight of Jesus' body on the cross. Instead, it has been
suggested that the nails would have to go through the wrists, as the image on the
Holy Shroud of Turin seems to indicate.
With mass-produced objects such as this it would be impossible to pin down any
single source of inspiration, since it draws on such a long and rich tradition.
In any case it seems unnecessary.
Yours sincerely,
(signature)
William S.A. Dale, Ph.D.,
Professor Emeritus
P.S. A good basic reference for the iconography of the crucifix is Gertrud
Schiller, Iconography of Christian Art (Lund Humphries, 1972) Vol. 2.
William S. Dale, personal
communication
The crucifix given to John Hislop was supposed to have been materialized by the
paranormal powers of Sai Baba. The question might also be raised as to the
plausibility of a true materialization which reproduces such details as air
bubbles identical with those caused by techniques of inexpensive mass
reproduction, and standard but historically inaccurate iconographic features
such as nails through palms.