Description
This sculpture of the crucified Christ reportedly came from a church in Banyoles in northeastern Spain. It was displayed between the choir and the nave, which was the space reserved for the congregation. Originally painted and gilded, it would have provided a dramatic focal point for the faithful. Christ’s figure, with drooping head, closed eyes, and limp body, emphasizes his humanity and suffering. This resigned treatment of the crucified Christ gained currency around 1200, in contrast to more upright and triumphant representations of Christ on the cross of earlier centuries.
Provenance
Church of Santa Maria dels Turers, Banyoles. Paul Tachard, Barcelona, c. 1919 [according to Bastardes i Parera 1981]. [R. Stora, Paris]; Kate S. Buckingham.
Accession Number
27747
Medium
Wood with traces of polychromy
Dimensions
201.9 × 165.1 cm (79 1/2 × 65 in.)
Classification
sculpture
Credit Line
Kate S. Buckingham Endowment