Pectoral Cross with the Crucifixion and the Virgin
(Byzantium and Early Russia)
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
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Pete N. Nickolas ("Helios Old World Antiques"), Westminster, MD, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1987, by purchase.
Geographies
Ukraine
(Place of Origin)
Russia (Place of Origin)
Measurements
3 1/16 x 1 1/2 x 3/8 in. (7.8 x 3.8 x 0.9 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, 1987
Location in Museum
Centre Street: Third Floor: Byzantine, Russian, and Ethiopian Icons
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
54.2629