Crucifixion
Statue Crucifixion
early 18th century (made)
early 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Francesco Bertos is best known for his allegorical groups in marble and bronze. Only rarely, it seems did he attempt religious subjects. This is his only known representation of the Crucifixion. This group seems more likely to have been produced for a private patron than for a church.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Crucifixion |
Materials and techniques | Bronze |
Brief description | Statuette, bronze, Italian, 18th cent, Francesco Bertos |
Physical description | Group, bronze. The figure of Christ on the cross, flanked by the weeping figures of the Magdalene (right) and an angel (left) holding a chalice to collect the blood from Christ's wound. Blood is shown dripping from the wounds and onto the cross. The front of the Magdalene's hair is shown in relief against the cross. The snake on which the angel treads has an unidentified object in its mouth and there is a skull and cross-bones and a vase, together with plant decoration on the mound which supports the cross and figures. The flanking figures are case in very high relief with the back cut away. The patina is mid-brown with some coppery areas. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | THE CRUCIFIXION
Italian (Venice); 1700-33
Bronze
By Francesco Bertos (active 1693-1733)
Francesco Bertos is best known for his allegorical groups in marble and bronze (a typical example is the bay nearby). Only rarely, it seems, did he attempt religious subjects, as in four bronze reliefs with biblical subjects (three at Glynde place Sussex and one in the Art Institute of Chicago). This is his only known representation of the Crucifixion. The figure of Christ is loosely based on the Christo morto type of Giambologna, but as usual with Bertos, the iconography of the rest of the group is highly idiosyncratic. Although we know that Bertos was dealing with the Basilica of Saint Anthony at Padua in 1733, this group seems more likely to have been produced for a private patron than for a church.
(1993 - 2011) |
Object history | Purchased from Signor Rodolfo Conti, via Beatrice Cenci, 7A, 00186, Rome, Italy. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Francesco Bertos is best known for his allegorical groups in marble and bronze. Only rarely, it seems did he attempt religious subjects. This is his only known representation of the Crucifixion. This group seems more likely to have been produced for a private patron than for a church. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.9-1971 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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