Description
Processional cross, walnut core, silver repoussé, chased and gilded, applique figures, remnants of black, green and blue enamels. Branches with redents ending in a quatrefoil, rim decorated with spherical elements, decoration of rosettes and rosettes, flowery scrolls on the edges. Front: Christ with head tilted to the right shoulder, draped perizonium with lateral fall, superimposed feet; busts of the Virgin Mary, Saint John, God the Father blessing and Mary Magdalene. Reverse: at the intersection, St. Francis receiving the stigmata, surrounded by the Tetramorph. Spherical gilded copper knot, adorned with four engraved silver medallions depicting Saint Sebastian, the Nativity, Saints Gervais and Protais and a saint in front of ramparts holding a monstrance (?) in his right hand. Italy, Abruzzo or Marche, entourage of Pietro Vannini (Ascoli, circa 1413 - 1496), mid-15th century H. 61.5 cm - L. 39.5 cm Molded walnut base Total H. 75.4 cm - Total weight: 3.541 kg (missing spherical elements, minor accidents, later rings, possibly associated knot from the same period and of comparable quality). The workmanship of this processional cross is of fine quality and its state of preservation remarkable, apart from some loss of enamel. The associated knot, with its large silver medallions and finely chased circles, also testifies to the work of a major silversmith. In comparison with the large processional cross in the Musée de Cluny, attributed to Pietro Vannini (inv. Cl. 9927, fig. a), the sconce figures here can be compared to the work of this Ascoli silversmith (figs. b and c). Works consulted - Sculture preziose. Oreficeria sacra nel Lazio dal XIII al XVIII secolo, Rome, 2015, p. 102-103 and p. 206-207 - Emile Bertaux, "Trésors d'Eglises. Ascoli Piceno et l'orfèvre Pietro Vanini", In: Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire, vol. 17, 1897, pp. 77-112 - Giuseppe Clerici, "Cultura e oreficeria del Quattrocento marchigiano: Pietro Vannini", In: Storia dell'arte, Nuova serie, n. 11, 2005, p. 35-58 - Ilaria Pecorelli, "Pietro Vannini's processionnal cross", In: Revista chileno-española, académico científica de humanidades, arte y cultura, no. 7, March 2020
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Processional cross, walnut core, silver repoussé, chased and gilded, applique figures, remnants of black, green and blue enamels. Branches with redents ending in a quatrefoil, rim decorated with spherical elements, decoration of rosettes and rosettes, flowery scrolls on the edges. Front: Christ with head tilted to the right shoulder, draped perizonium with lateral fall, superimposed feet; busts of the Virgin Mary, Saint John, God the Father blessing and Mary Magdalene. Reverse: at the intersection, St. Francis receiving the stigmata, surrounded by the Tetramorph. Spherical gilded copper knot, adorned with four engraved silver medallions depicting Saint Sebastian, the Nativity, Saints Gervais and Protais and a saint in front of ramparts holding a monstrance (?) in his right hand. Italy, Abruzzo or Marche, entourage of Pietro Vannini (Ascoli, circa 1413 - 1496), mid-15th century H. 61.5 cm - L. 39.5 cm Molded walnut base Total H. 75.4 cm - Total weight: 3.541 kg (missing spherical elements, minor accidents, later rings, possibly associated knot from the same period and of comparable quality). The workmanship of this processional cross is of fine quality and its state of preservation remarkable, apart from some loss of enamel. The associated knot, with its large silver medallions and finely chased circles, also testifies to the work of a major silversmith. In comparison with the large processional cross in the Musée de Cluny, attributed to Pietro Vannini (inv. Cl. 9927, fig. a), the sconce figures here can be compared to the work of this Ascoli silversmith (figs. b and c). Works consulted - Sculture preziose. Oreficeria sacra nel Lazio dal XIII al XVIII secolo, Rome, 2015, p. 102-103 and p. 206-207 - Emile Bertaux, "Trésors d'Eglises. Ascoli Piceno et l'orfèvre Pietro Vanini", In: Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire, vol. 17, 1897, pp. 77-112 - Giuseppe Clerici, "Cultura e oreficeria del Quattrocento marchigiano: Pietro Vannini", In: Storia dell'arte, Nuova serie, n. 11, 2005, p. 35-58 - Ilaria Pecorelli, "Pietro Vannini's processionnal cross", In: Revista chileno-española, académico científica de humanidades, arte y cultura, no. 7, March 2020
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