Pax
1425-1450 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a bone pax made in Italy (Venice) in about 1425-1450 and depicts Christ emerging from the tomb. Both the carving and the intarsia work are typical of the so-called 'Susanna Workshop'. The prominent use of green elements both within the intarsia and in the framing can be found on other productions of this group. The Susanna Workshop seems to have been responsible of the majority of surviving paxes of this type.
This version of the Man of Sorrows, with Christ displaying his wounds with arms outstretched, seems to have developed around the middle of the fourteenth century. The image continued to be popular until the middle of the fifteenth century in both Florence and Venice, and can be seen in paintings by Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi, as well as in a Venetian panel by Michele Giambono.
A pax was used at the end of mass as part of the ‘Kiss of Peace’ ritual. First the priest would kiss it, then the members of the congregation.
This version of the Man of Sorrows, with Christ displaying his wounds with arms outstretched, seems to have developed around the middle of the fourteenth century. The image continued to be popular until the middle of the fifteenth century in both Florence and Venice, and can be seen in paintings by Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi, as well as in a Venetian panel by Michele Giambono.
A pax was used at the end of mass as part of the ‘Kiss of Peace’ ritual. First the priest would kiss it, then the members of the congregation.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bone, intarsia and pigments on a softwood core |
| Brief description | Pax, bone, intarsia and pigments on softwood core, Christ emerging from the tomb, North Italy (Venice), ca. 1425-1450 |
| Physical description | In the centre the Dead Christ is represented half-length, standing in the Sepulchre with the Cross behind Him and displaying his wounds. The grieving Virgin stands on the left in full-length, her head covered with her mantle, her hands crossed before her breast; to the right stands St John the Evangelist, also with head bowed in grief. The scene is framed by pilasters in a tabernacle-like space. Above, under the gable, the pediment contains the bust of God the Father with arms outstretched, with the Dove of the Holy Spirit before him, spreading its wings and looking downwards at Christ. The pax is formed from a sandwich of three layers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh, FSA |
| Object history | Acquired by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A. in Paris in 1927; on loan to the Museum from 1928 and given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh in 1952. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a bone pax made in Italy (Venice) in about 1425-1450 and depicts Christ emerging from the tomb. Both the carving and the intarsia work are typical of the so-called 'Susanna Workshop'. The prominent use of green elements both within the intarsia and in the framing can be found on other productions of this group. The Susanna Workshop seems to have been responsible of the majority of surviving paxes of this type. This version of the Man of Sorrows, with Christ displaying his wounds with arms outstretched, seems to have developed around the middle of the fourteenth century. The image continued to be popular until the middle of the fifteenth century in both Florence and Venice, and can be seen in paintings by Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi, as well as in a Venetian panel by Michele Giambono. A pax was used at the end of mass as part of the ‘Kiss of Peace’ ritual. First the priest would kiss it, then the members of the congregation. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.20-1952 |
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| Record created | April 26, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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