Processional cross with triumphant Christ (Christus triumphans) flanked by busts of the evangelists, Saints Matthew, John, Mark, and Luke (obverse); and suffering Christ (Christus patiens) flanked by busts of the Virgin Mary, God the father, Saint John and unidentified male saint with cross (Saint Philip?) (reverse)
Neri di Bicci
Description
March 28, 2009
The suffering and triumph of Christ are dramatically juxtaposed on this rare and delicate cross. On one side, the dead Christ slumps forward, flanked by the mourning Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist with God the Father looking on from above and the apostle Philip below. On the other side, by contrast, Christ stands upright, surrounded by the four Evangelists who witness his triumph over death and sin. This cross was carried aloft on a staff in religious processions, and the depiction of Christ on either side of the cross would ensure that an image addressed spectators no matter where they stood. The juxtaposition of the living and dead Christ would have resonated powerfully with many of the church rituals for which the cross was used, notably funeral rites and the Eucharist, which re-enacted Christ’s sacrifice.
Subject Matter:
The front (obverse) of the cross depicts the living Christ triumphant (Christus triumphans) on the cross, surrounded by busts of the Evangelists, Saints Matthew (proper left), John (top), Mark (proper right) and Luke (bottom), on the terminals. The reverse of the cross depicts the suffering Christ (Christus Patiens) surrounded on the terminals by busts of the mourning Virgin Mary (proper left) and Saint John the Evangelist (proper right), God the father holding an open book (top), and an unidentified male saint holding a cross, perhaps the Apostle Philip (bottom).
Physical Description:
The arms of the cross end in quatrefoil-shaped terminals. The front (obverse) is gilded and features a molding along the edges. The back (reverse) has a deep azurite blue ground and a gilded band punched with tiny rosettes that runs along the border.
Usage Rights:
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.