what the x-ray revealed

[Dave]

Original
Where the sun sets, Western enlightenment  
bathes Jesus's 16th century satins in a warm glow, 
 what we can't see is his Jewish nose beneath 
the perfectly rendered lies. Yet it is there,
an offence to the new and the rules of art. 

Revision

Where the sun sets, Western enlightenment  
bathes Jesus's 16th century satins in a warm glow, 
 what we can't see is his Jewish nose beneath 
the perfectly rendered Roman glory. Yet it is there,
[font]discretely lurking in the mask of history. [/font]

[Trish Saunders]

Some interesting word choices, the "nose" of Jesus -- ha! I have never really thought about that feature. Assume this is about the shroud of Turin.  There is a just a little bit of a lecturing tone to the last sentence  which I found just a little off-putting. "Where the sun sets, Western enlightenment bathes" is an interesting beginning. 

 

[Dave]

Thanks Trish and fully agree with your comments on the last line
Dave

[Matty11]

Like the ironic use of enlightenment Dave and the update to Roman glory which adds another layer of 'lie'. The blunt offence in the original worked for me. Possible option -

Where the sun sets, Western enlightenment
bathes Jesus's 16th century satins in a warm glow,
what we can't see is his Jewish nose beneath
the perfectly rendered Roman glory. Yet it is there,
[font]discretely lurking, an offence to circumvent
even for Renaissance man.

best

Phil

[Colm Roe]

Maybe the owner of the shroud accidentally put it in the wash, and, to cover his mistake, made a new one.
Or maybe the whole question is (sadly) moot!
That sun won't set for a while yet

[Dave]

Thanks for the comments. Just to be clear, it was not a shroud but a painting and the image of Jesus with a 'Jewish nose' was indeed painted over to make him a middle European. Can't remember the painter but was one of those classic ones.
Dave