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Processional Cross

Master of Santa Chiara

1320

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Byzantine icon painting Medieval Religious Umbria

Dominant colour

Processional Cross is a 1320 unspecified by Master of Santa Chiara, a Byzantine icon painting work, depicting Umbria, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Master of Santa Chiara
When & what style?: 1320 · Byzantine icon painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a tall cross with Christ on the front and back, surrounded by small figures—the Virgin Mary, Saint John, angels, and two saints at the bottom. This cross was made to be carried in church processions, so both sides look almost the same. The artist painted the faces with deep emotion, even though the figures are small. The saints at the bottom—Francis and Clare—hint it was made for a Franciscan convent. To see more works like this, look up *subject: italy, umbria*.

The story of this work

Overview

This cross was originally mounted on a tall pole and carried in religious processions. Therefore, the figures on each side are almost identical. In the center is Christ crucified. Looking on from the elaborate terminals at left and right are the Virgin and Saint John. The bottom terminal shows a different saint on each side: Saint Francis on one and Saint Clare on the other. At the top of each side is an angel. Although one angel looks up and the other down, both express intense grief in their faces and gestures. The Master of Santa Chiara is the name given to this unknown artist who painted…

Did you know?

This cross is painted on both sides so that while being carried in a procession the images are visible to a crowd; both sides are not quite identical.

Read the full account in the museum source.