Crucifix
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Crucifix , Christ , Crucifixion , Passion , Cross , Jesus
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Abstract
In the Chapel of the Sacred Heart—third on the left—of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio in Rome is an eighteenth-century crucifix made of gilded wood, possibly with applied gold leaf. Some areas of the gilding are thicker, suggesting overlapping sheets of gold leaf. The greenish tint might result from using a green bole instead of the more common red bole. The loincloth and the frame around the crucifix may have been re-gilded more recently.
The crucifix is surrounded by small relics and a detailed frame with vegetal designs. Christ's muscular form is emphasized, highlighting his physical strength. The wound on his side is short, sharp, and clean. His gilded loincloth matches the richness of the surrounding frame, and he wears a gilded halo decorated with four hearts—symbols of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart symbolizes Christ's divine love and compassion for humanity, often depicted as a heart encircled by thorns and radiating light. Here, the gilding is used to represent that light. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.
Description
Sant' Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio, Rome