Crucifix
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Crucifix , Christ , Crucifixion , Passion , Lateran
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Abstract
In the private Ceci Chapel, situated at the far-right end of the transept of San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome, hangs a polychrome wood crucifix of uncertain origin and dating, possibly from the sixteenth century. While Christ’s torso follows the sculptural conventions of crucifixes carved in the late medieval period, the head and arms follow trends from the Renaissance. The crucifix may be from the Northern school. The chapel itself is dedicated to the sixteenth-century cardinal, Pomponio Ceci.
Suspended high on the cross, Christ’s head twists sharply to his right, his expression marked by suffering as his mouth and eyes open wide. The sculptor rendered intricate veins on his arms, possibly using string dipped in gesso. The polychromy is chipped and cracked throughout. The damage is particularly severe on the legs, where losses expose the underlying gesso and wood.
Christ’s hair and beard are meticulously sculpted, with individual curls carefully shaped in the wood. His mouth is parted, revealing teeth, and his eyes are painted with discernible pupils. Trails of blood, rendered in detail and abundance, flow from the wounds inflicted by the nails, the crown of thorns, and the gash in Christ’s chest.
Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome