Contained within the impressive collections of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence is a silver altar cross that was fashioned in between 1457-1459 by Antonio del Pollaiolo and Betto di Francesco Croce. Originally this altar cross was, according to the Museum, "displayed in the Baptistery above the silver altar every June 24th, on the feast of St John the Baptist, patron saint of the city, and every January 13th, the feast of Baptism of the Lord.
For those not familiar with the baptistery of the Duomo of Florence, it is an impressive, independent structure, sitting outside of the main entrance of the cathedral:
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| The baptistery of the Duomo of Florence, Santa Maria del Fiore |
Within this baptistry, twice a year on the aforementioned feasts, a moveable altar was placed in the centre of this baptistery and this silver altar cover was placed on that altar. It was on this altar that this altar cross would have been placed:
This altar cross is quite monumental, standing approximately two metres in height and in addition to Christ crucified, we can also find the sculptural figures of Our Lady and St. John at the foot of the cross.
Beyond this, various other enamels and engravings also cover this cross; these feature various saints and biblical scenes, including St. Mary Magdalen, St. John the Baptist, the Doctors of the Church, Moses, the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, as well as allegorical figures of the theological virtues. The end result is a substantive altar cross, packed with biblical and theological symbolism apropos to a baptistery.
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| God the Father |
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| Behind the corpus, you can see the image of the Pelican in her piety. |
Especially impressive (for reason of the added colour) is the reverse side of the cross which showcases beautiful enamels that feature a central image of the Lamb of God as well as the Four Evangelists and St. John the Baptist.
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| The Lamb of God |
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| St. John the Evangelist |
Finally, we will conclude our consideration here with a closer look at the highly ornamental base of the altar cross.
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