Christ Holding a Chalice and Cross (recto)
1666
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
About the artist
Artist
Alonso Cano
Alonso Cano (1601–1667) was an artist, born in Granada.
See the richer artist page1666
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Christ Holding a Chalice and Cross (recto) is a 1666 by Alonso Cano, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
A man in a robe holds a cross in one hand and a golden cup in the other. Behind him, another figure points, like he’s making an introduction. This is Christ after rising from the dead, showing the tools of his sacrifice. The cup is the chalice used at Mass, and the pointing man is John the Baptist, calling Christ the “Lamb of God.” Cano drew this as a study for an altarpiece—no finished painting of it exists. The sketch feels quick but sure, like a rehearsal for something bigger. If you like this quiet, direct style, look up the work of Alonso Cano (Spanish, 1601–1667).
In this drawing a triumphant Christ holds the cross signifying his resurrection, while offering a chalice as a symbol of his blood and sacrifice. In the background, Saint John the Baptist points, identifying Christ as the Lamb (or sacrifice) of God. Alonso Cano was an artist in Baroque Spain who made works primarily in the service of the Catholic Church and Spanish monarchs. Though no related painting is known, the composition is appropriate for an altarpiece, meant as a visual aid to clarify the meaning of the Catholic Mass.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Alonso Cano (1601–1667) was an artist, born in Granada.
See the richer artist page
