Title

Processional Cross

Anonimous

Generic classification

Object

Date

Century

Cultural context / style

Dimensions

Material

Technique

Iconography / Theme

Provenance

Current location

Inventory Number in Current Collection

Object history

We do not know the origin of this processional cross, as it bears no markings (Barrón, 1991). However, its morphology points to Burgos. During the 14th and 15th centuries, Burgos became one of the most important centers of artistic production in Castile, particularly notable for its silverwork (Cruz Valdovinos, 1992; Barrón, 1994). Burgos was one of the creative hubs for this type of processional cross, so it seems plausible to think that the piece came from there. Crosses of this type have been documented from the early 14th century to the 1520s, but if we look closely at the characteristics of the piece and compare it with other similar ones, we can date it to the mid-14th century (Taburet-Delahaye, 1989; Barrón, 1998).

Some of the processional crosses that have been preserved and follow this model are those of Santa Cruz del Tozo, Rebolledo de la Torre, Lodoso, Quintanilla de las Viñas, Ura, and Santibáñez de Esgueva, all of which are located in Burgos. Other examples, although somewhat later, are the crosses housed in the Burgos Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). It is also worth mentioning a very similar processional cross from Burgos that was auctioned by Sotheby's in 2020. We therefore consider that it probably originated in Burgos.

We do not know how and when the piece was sold, but at the end of the 19th century it was in the Stieglitz Museum, an institution founded by Baron Stieglitz in St. Petersburg (Russia) in 1882. Around this time, photographs were taken of the museum, with the piece most likely located in The Pope Gallery. Much of the institution's collection ended up in the Hermitage after the 1917 revolution (Slippens, 2014). In fact, this cross was transferred in 1924 and remains there today.

Description

This processional cross follows the Latin model. At the top is a fleur-de-lis and an angel in the middle. In the center of the cross is a square plaque with an engraved surface. The figure of Christ has three nails and a long loincloth. The short arms of the cross feature engraved plant motifs, with the Virgin Mary and Saint John at the ends and, closer to the figure of Christ, two blue and white enamels representing the two thieves.

Locations

• Mid XIV^th c.

  province

  Possible origin in the province of Burgos, Burgos (Spain)

• XIX^th c. - ca. 1924

  museum

  Stieglitz Museum, San Petersburgo (Russia)

• ca. 1924 - present

  museum

  The Stage Hermitage, San Petesburgo (Russia)