Ancient crucifix with God the Father, the Virgin, and Saint John

Crucifix (Christus Patiens) with God the Father, the Virgin, and Saint John In the style of 14th-century Tuscan painting Tempera on panel Height: 150 cm - Width: 99 cm Underwent non-invasive conservative restoration (details in the photo of the artwork before the intervention) Full photographic details (Click HERE) We present this precious ancient crucifix of Christ, with God the Father blessing in the pinnacle, the grieving Virgin, and Saint John in the side terminals; the latter, weeping, are the figures mentioned in the Gospels, present at the foot of the cross, who witnessed Jesus' sacrifice, thus holding significant value as witnesses and participants. The artwork, a tempera on panel, is executed in the style of 14th-century Tuscan painting, adhering to its quality and stylistic standards. The first painted crosses, created in Tuscany and Umbria in the 12th century, became symbols of Christ's sacrifice and thus emblems of Christianity. While in this early phase the type of Christ was Christus Triumphans, with a triumphant aspect over death, from the mid-13th century onwards, with the preaching of Saint Francis of Assisi who favored the human aspect of Christ, the Christus Patiens model became preferred. A key work of this genre is Giotto's crucifix in Santa Maria Novella in Florence, not only for its quality but also for the depth of its meanings and symbolic values, becoming a reference model for many followers' paintings. Giotto renounces the beauty ennobled by the slender and geometrically perfect forms of the body (because divine) but implausible, to present the body of an ordinary man, truly nailed to the cross, abandoned with all his visibly physical weight. The painter dwells on the realistic aspects of his condition, such as the skin tone, the blood, the ribs pressing against the skin, the stretched tendons of the arms, the head falling forward, and the sense of exhaustion of the body. Regarding the cross presented here, we see a painting rendered according to the 14th-century canons introduced precisely by Giotto: Christ's head is bowed, and great attention is given to the anatomical description of the body. It is executed on shaped planks of soft wood; the painting is done in tempera, but it reveals a refined quality in the blending of colors and chiaroscuro. The halo, as well as the background of the figures in the terminals, is made with a gold background, also traditional; in our case, metal decorations are applied to the contour of the halo, a detail that does not belong to the Italian tradition but seems to belong to French Gothic taste. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic descriptive sheet. We handle and organize the transportation of purchased artworks, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. Should you wish to see this or other artworks in person, we would be delighted to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, at Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We look forward to seeing you! Contact us for any information or to arrange a visit; we will be happy to assist you. Follow us also on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/