Located in the city of Bologna is the fifteenth century Basilica of San Petronio, a basilica that is perhaps most famous for the fact of its only partially finished facade. However, located within the basilica is a stunning, monumental carved wooden crucifix, hung from the ciborium magnum and located above the high altar. This monumental cross was actually originally located in the sacristy before being moved to its current location.
Regrettably, little information is available about this particular cross, other than the fact that it is the product of the fifteenth century. The artist, however, is unknown. Still, despite the lack of information, it is an especially beautiful cross and worth featuring if only for the enjoyment of its particular nobility and beauty.
The monumental scale of this particular cross can best be grasped when one compares it to the altar and ciborium:
The cross itself stylistically falls somewhat into the sphere of the great medieval Italian crucifixes, though in this particular instance the overall design is influenced by later period tastes; one also wonders about potential Italo-Byzantine influences as well.
At root however, it is a simple, carved crucifix in a medieval model, surrounded by gilt, carved embellishments and a total of twelve cherubs in decorative roundels located on each end or the cross in alternating colours of dark grey and red ochre.
At its core then, in a certain sense the design is simple, consisting of a corpus, repeating cherubim and vegetal designs, but the end result is an absolutely stunning piece of liturgical art and a crucifix.
A closer look at some of the details.
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