Corpus from a Crucifix
Unknown Artist
c. 1130–1140
Medium
polychromed wood
Dimensions
{"overall":{"height":1.111,"width":0.202,"depth":0.078}}
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
Accession Number
1980.1
About this artwork
By the 11th century, monumental crucifixes carved from wood and painted were a common feature of church interiors. Placed on or suspended above the main altar, they reminded viewers of Christ’s sacrifice on behalf of mankind at the Crucifixion, an event reenacted every time Mass was celebrated on the altar below. Crucifixes also invited prayer and meditation on Christ’s role as Redeemer. This fragmentary but finely carved corpus, or body of Christ, once belonged to such a crucifix.