Altar crucifix

Altar crucifixes vary greatly in the treatment of their components, which may be wooden, often gilt or covered in silver. All the elements came together to support the image of the crucified Christ. From the 17th century, crucifixes became an essential presence on Christian altars. In India, they were more important than the candlesticks, candelabra or floral decorations. When not joined with the tabernacles, they rested on triangular, square or polygonal bases. From this base rose the Cross, generally Latin, with a long vertical shaft and a shorter crosspiece – the arms. The ends of the arms and the upper part of the shaft would have borne decoration indicative of the respective period and style, though always dependent on the way the figure of Christ was represented.
This 18th century altar crucifix is fashioned from painted wood and is embellished by gilt carving and mother-of-pearl. The painted figure of Christ is made of ivory and is topped by a tablet bearing the customary initials INRI (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews). Its loincloth does not have much decoration and is held up on the right, with its ends falling almost to the knees. The stylistic treatment of this 17th century altar crucifix, if we exclude the features of Christ, may be said to use western artistic styles.