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Crucifix

Romanesque

Anonymous

First third of the thirteenth century

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The anatomy of this sculpture is presented in a concise form: for example in the torso, only flat pectoral muscles can be distinguished, and no ribs. The loincloth shows greater elaboration, with a knot below the navel and two tubular shapes corresponding to the thighs. Under the current paint layer, which consists of a whitened flesh-tone and a gold leaf gilding, the figure still shows a glimpse of a previous pinker layer. This, together with the use of bole as a preparation for the gilding, confirms that the object was probably overpainted in the Gothic period. Despite the simplicity of the figure and the mutilations it has suffered, some of its stylistic features seem to indicate that it was produced by an active workshop in the Catalan western Pyrenees at the beginning of the 13th century. Furthermore, due to the fact that the Christ figure is wearing a crown and has a rather straight posture, this crucifix has not been related to the Christus patiens type or suffering Christ but rather to that type of nude Majesties in order to distinguish them from clothed Majesties such as that of Lluçà or Les Planes (MEV 83), alive and with the eyes open. We don’t know how was the first paint layer but the sculptural volume of the eyes does not detract from this idea.

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Location

Room ,Floor0

4 Romanesque Art

5-6-7-8 Gothic Art

Detalls de l’obra

PLACE OF EXECUTION

Catalonia (Western Pyrenees?)

PERIOD

First third of the thirteenth century

Material

Poplar, polychromed and gilded

Dimensions

45 x 14 x 11 cm

Origin

Provenance unknown

WORK NUMBER

MEV 9725