The Crucifixion with the Virgin and St John
Pendant
ca. 900 (made)
ca. 900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Crucifixion was one of the central Christian images, in the Byzantine East as much as the West. This luxurious object would have formed the focus of its owner's prayers.
Cameos with religious imagery were objects for personal devotional use in the Byzantine world. The choice of a semi-precious hardstone for this piece emphasises both its importance as an object to its original owner, and its luxurious nature. The suspension loop, although not original, almost certainly reflects how the object would have originally been used, when it was probably worn as an 'enkolpion', a sacred image to be worn at the breast.
Cameos with religious imagery were objects for personal devotional use in the Byzantine world. The choice of a semi-precious hardstone for this piece emphasises both its importance as an object to its original owner, and its luxurious nature. The suspension loop, although not original, almost certainly reflects how the object would have originally been used, when it was probably worn as an 'enkolpion', a sacred image to be worn at the breast.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Crucifixion with the Virgin and St John (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Jasper |
| Brief description | Jaspar pendant depicting The Crucifixion with the Virgin and St John, Byzantine (Constantinople), ca. 900 |
| Physical description | Carved jasper relief, the figures carved in quite high relief, with full forms. Christ is shown wearing an ample loin cloth, his feet nailed separately to a suppedaneum. To his right stands the Virgin Mary, raising her right arm, covered by her mantle, towards Christ. To his left stands John the Evangelist holding a roll in his left hand. Above are representations of the Sun and the Moon. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Purchased under the Bequest of Mr Francis Reubell Bryan |
| Object history | This piece was bought from Adolpho Loewi, an art dealer in Venice, who had 'purchased it from a private family in Rome' (V&A archives). Nothing is known of its early history. It is possible, given the Roman provenance, that this was one of the many portable Byzantine objects that seem to have made their way into Italy before the fifteenth century. Historical significance: The Crucifixion was one of the central Christian images, in the Byzantine East as much as the West. This luxurious object would have formed the focus of its owner's personal devotional practices. |
| Historical context | Cameos with religious imagery were objects for personal devotional use in the Byzantine world, in effect portable icons or amulets. The choice of a semi-precious hardstone for this piece emphasises both its importance as an object to its original owner, and its luxurious nature. The suspension loop, although not original, almost certainly reflects how the object would have originally been used, when it was probably worn as an 'enkolpion', a sacred image to be worn at the breast. |
| Production | It was originally suggested, in a report by Volbach and Goldschmidt, that this carved jasper dated from the twelfth century, but a number of peculiarities of the iconography have much earlier parallels (St John holds a roll rather than a book; the unusual pose of the Virgin). Subsequent scholars have accepted this as a much earlier piece. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The Crucifixion was one of the central Christian images, in the Byzantine East as much as the West. This luxurious object would have formed the focus of its owner's prayers. Cameos with religious imagery were objects for personal devotional use in the Byzantine world. The choice of a semi-precious hardstone for this piece emphasises both its importance as an object to its original owner, and its luxurious nature. The suspension loop, although not original, almost certainly reflects how the object would have originally been used, when it was probably worn as an 'enkolpion', a sacred image to be worn at the breast. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.77-1937 |
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| Record created | March 5, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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