Important devotional sacred art artifact, this table crucifix is attributable to Italian Baroque production between the 17th and 18th centuries, intended for private prayer and domestic devotion. The work is distinguished by the refined combination of precious materials and the high executive quality of its decorative components.
The body of Christ, made of finely chased gilded bronze, is depicted according to the traditional iconography of Christus Patiens, with particular anatomical attention and intense expressive rendering. The figure emerges with strong plastic evidence against the dark background of the cross, creating a refined chromatic and material contrast.
The structure of the cross features elegant alabaster inlay on the arms, enclosed within an ebony wood molding. The terminals are adorned with repoussé silver corner pieces decorated with shell motifs and foliate volutes, ornamental elements typical of Baroque taste. Behind Christ's head, a golden radiance opens up, symbolizing divine light and celestial glory.
The crucifix rests on a stepped octagonal base in ebonized wood, likely a later addition but consistent with the typology of liturgical and devotional furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries.
For its stylistic characteristics and quality of materials, the work is comparable to the production of specialized workshops in central Italy, particularly in the Florentine or Roman sphere, active between the 17th and 18th centuries and known for their combined use of gilded bronzes, hard stones, and precious woods.
Technique: gilded bronze, alabaster, repoussé silver, and wood
Dimensions: 69 x 41 cm (cross 56 x 41 cm)
Period: 17th – 18th century
Restoration: minor conservation interventions
Provenance: private collection
