Title

Processional Cross

Anonimous

Generic classification

Object

Date

Century

Cultural context / style

Dimensions

Material

Technique

Iconography / Theme

Provenance

Current location

Object history

The origin of this processional cross is unknown, as it lacks any markings (Barrón, 1991). According to Corti (1994): "The type of cross with fleur-de-lis decoration has been widely used in the Castilian area, but we note that the fleur-de-lis finials in the form of thin appendages that fork into two or three lobes are characteristic of several examples preserved in the province of Palencia." The author refers to the processional crosses from the churches of Cenera de Zalima, Corvio, and Nestar, located in the municipality of Aguilar de Campoo (Palencia), as well as the cross of Pisón de Castrejón (Castrejón de la Peña, Palencia).

However, the morphology of this type of processional cross also refers to Burgos, a city where similar pieces have been documented from the early 14th century to the 1520s. We can cite some examples such as those of Santa Cruz del Tozo, Rebolledo de la Torre, Lodoso, Quintanilla de las Viñas, Ura, and Santibáñez de Esgueva, all of which are towns in Burgos.

There are numerous alienated processional crosses that follow this typology. In this regard, we can mention the one housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), The Stage Hermitage (St. Petersburg), or one recently auctioned by Sotheby's in 2020. All of them come from Burgos, however, we cannot say that this example has the same origin, since it was a type that was widespread throughout the Castilian area. Although Corti (1994) dated the piece to the early 14th century, we believe that its chronology should be pushed back to the mid-14th century (Taburet-Delahaye, 1989; Barrón, 1998).

Enrique Larreta, diplomat and collector, bought the cross in 1921 (Nobilia, 2018). It is not known where he acquired it, but that same year, a retrospective art exhibition was held in the city of Burgos as part of the cathedral's 700th anniversary celebrations. Larreta visited the exhibition with the painter Ignacio Zuloaga, who helped him acquire some pieces. The correspondence between Zuloaga and his uncle Daniel illustrates the role played by the artist: "I have just arrived from Burgos. What an exhibition! What paintings! What things there are in Spain. I went with Larreta and made him buy a wonderful Christ. He is overjoyed, and what a frontal from Silos, what emotion from great art"(no. 518).

The exhibition catalog briefly mentions several Gothic processional crosses (Cortés, Hergueta, Huidobro, and Martínez, 1921). Could this have been where Larreta bought the piece? We do not know. Be that as it may, the cross was acquired to be placed in one of the diplomat's residences in Buenos Aires (Argentina). After Larreta's death, his collection was dispersed: some pieces were donated by the family, while a large part of the collection was put up for sale (Nobilia, 2018). This piece was included in the auction organized by Posadas Remate (no. 30) on November 29-30, 1988 (Urgell, 1988). The processional cross is currently located in Acelain, an Arab-style residence that Larreta had Martín Noel build in Tandil (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Description

This processional cross follows the Latin model. Its arms are topped with fleurs-de-lis. In the center of the piece is Christ crucified, accompanied by the two thieves. At the ends, the Virgin Mary and Saint John contemplate the scene with despondency. On the reverse side of the piece, the figure of Christ enthroned occupies the central part, while the arms feature engraved plant decoration.

Locations

• Mid XIV^th c.

  region

  Possible origin from Castile and Leon, Castilla y León (Spain)

• ca. 1921 - Third quarter of the XX^th c.

  private collection

  Enrique Larreta, Buenos Aires (Argentina) *

• 1988

  auction house

  Posadas Remate S.A., Bullrich, Gaona y Guerrico, Buenos Aires (Argentina)

• ca. 1988 - present

  museum

  Acelain, Buenos Aires (Argentina)