Crucifix

Abstract

In the right aisle of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, in the Chapel of the Holy Relics, also known as the Chapel of the Crucifix, hangs a polychrome wood crucifix that the church dates to the early 1400s, but is most likely from the later fifteenth or early sixteenth century. Suspended high on the cross, Christ’s head twists sharply to his right, his expression marked by suffering as his mouth and eyes open wide. The sculptor rendered intricate veins on his arms, possibly using string dipped in gesso. Christ’s hair and beard are meticulously sculpted, with individual curls carefully shaped in the wood. His mouth is parted, revealing top and bottom teeth as a way to represent agony, and his eyes are painted with discernible pupils. Blood spurts from the wounds inflicted by the nails, the crown of thorns, and the gash in Christ’s chest. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.