Crucifix
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Authors
Unknown Florentine artist
Date
Type
image
Language
Keyword
Crucifix , Christ , Cross , Jesus
Alternative Title
Abstract
This painted wood crucifix by an unknown artist once hung in a prominent position above the high altar in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. As is typical of crucifixes from the late fifteenth century, Jesus hangs in a 'T'- shape position, with his muscular arms painfully stretched nearly parallel to the ground. His suffering is shown by an agonized expression -- contracted eyebrows, half-open eyes and a gaping mouth -- met with a beautiful and somewhat poised melancholy. The blood-pooling wounds of crucifixes of the previous century are replaced here with supple, though still tactile, drips of blood on the feet, side, hands, and head (once adorned with the crown of thorns). The low-sitting loincloth is characteristic of crucifixes of the period and was probably made by dipping a piece of fabric into gesso and then painting it violet-blue. Today, the Crucifix is displayed in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Description
Il Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence; Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
Citation
The New Opera del Duomo Museum (Florence: La Mandragora s.r.l., 2015), 115, 118.