Description
Painted by Simone Martini around 1320–1325, this crucifix is preserved in the church of Santa Maria al Prato, also known as the Misericordia church, in San Casciano in Val di Pesa. Christ hangs lifeless on a Gothic-shaped cross, with the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist depicted at the ends of its arms. The delicate rendering of the body, the bowed head and the contrasts of colour communicate the grief of the Passion. Restored by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, the work returned to its church in 2019.
The object’s shape determined how it was understood. Unlike a rectangular panel, a painted cross reproduces on a large scale the central sign of the Passion. It does not merely depict the Crucifixion; it presents Christ upon the very form worshippers recognised as a symbol of sacrifice and redemption.
