reads, in translation: Lentulus, the Governor of the Jerusalemites to the Roman Senate and People, greetings. There has appeared in our times, and there still lives, a man of great power (virtue), called Jesus Christ. The people call him prophet of truth; his disciples, son of God. He raises the dead, and heals infirmities. He is a man of medium size (statura procerus, mediocris et spectabilis); he has a venerable aspect, and his beholders can both fear and love him. His hair is of the colour of the ripe hazel-nut, straight down to the ears, but below the ears wavy and curled, with a bluish and bright reflection, flowing over his shoulders. It is parted in two on the top of the head, after the pattern of the Nazarenes. His brow is smooth and very cheerful with a face without wrinkle or spot, embellished by a slightly reddish complexion. His nose and mouth are faultless. His beard is abundant, of the colour of his hair, not long, but divided at the chin. His aspect is simple and mature, his eyes are changeable and bright. He is terrible in his reprimands, sweet and amiable in his admonitions, cheerful without loss of gravity. He was never known to laugh, but often to weep. His stature is straight, his hands and arms beautiful to behold. His conversation is grave, infrequent, and modest. He is the most beautiful among the children of men. The description agrees with the so-called Abgar description of Jesus as well as the description of Jesus given by Nicephorus Callistus, St. John Damascene, and the Book of Painters (of Mount Athos). Ernst von Dobschütz enumerates the different manuscripts which vary from the foregoing text in several details, and gives an apparatus criticus. Effects The letter saw widespread publication and was taken as an eyewitness account for a long time. It also gave various artists, such as Dirk Bouts, a model on which to base the face and appearance of Jesus Christ. References Further reading Didier Martens, Dirk Bouts en de iconografie; keuzes van de schilder, de 'adviseur' ende opdrachtgevern in Catheline Perier-D'Ieteren, Dirk Bouts: Het volledige oeuvre, 2005, page 62. External links Lentulus - in ancient sources @ attalus.org. ATTALUS: Greek and Roman history 322 - 42 B.C. New Testament apocrypha Document forgeries Jesus in art