Pectoral Cross with the Crucifixion and the Virgin

Description The front of this cross depicts the crucified Christ flanked by the Virgin and John the Evangelist, an archangel above, and a skull designating Adam's place of burial below the cross. The back contains an image of the Virgin and Child surrounded by medallions with Saints Peter and Paul and two bishop saints. Bronze pendant crosses, or "enkolpia," form the largest group of private devotional objects to survive from Byzantium in this period, and were also made in neighboring regions, such as Kievan Rus' (Ukraine).

Provenance Pete N. Nickolas ("Helios Old World Antiques"), Westminster, MD, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1987, by purchase.

Credit Museum purchase, 1987