Cross

On the front, the three-dimensional figure of Christ is flanked by that of his mother, the Virgin Mary, and John the Evangelist on the ends of the cross' arms. Over and below Christ are two angelic figures. While the angelic figure on the bottom arm of the cross carries a chalice, and therefore probably originally was in that place, it is possible that the angel over the head of Christ in actuality was to have represented the Evangelist Matthew, whose figure is missing from the back of the cross. In the center of the cross on the back appears the figure of Christ in majesty. The varied outline of this cross is typical of Lombard and northern examples of the period. Also typically Lombard is the style of the figure of Christ: his body frontal, his head only slightly inclined, the exaggeratedly stylized representation of his ribs and chest and his long perizoma with an equal hemline. Probably purchased by the brothers Fausto and Giuseppe at the end of the 19th century, the cross is still displayed--as are all other objects in the museum--in its original place, thus contributing to the authentic "time capsule" ambiance.