Christ Romanesque On The Cross, Spain, 12th Century

Carved Cypress Wood, Partially Polychrome, Tempera with Later Overpaint – H. 45 x W. 45 cm approx.Rare Romanesque figure of Christ on the Cross, carved in cypress wood, typical of 12th-century Spanish religious art. Depicted in the "Christus Triumphans" iconography, with both arms outstretched in a gesture of victory rather than suffering, this work exemplifies the Romanesque aesthetic of solemnity and divine authority.

The figure is frontally posed, with a stylized beard, deeply carved hair, and a hieratic, expressive face. The rigid vertical folds of the tunic and the symmetry of the form highlight the Romanesque quest for symbolic clarity. Originally painted in tempera, the piece retains traces of its original polychromy in ochre, red, brown, and ivory, along with visible areas of later overpainting.

The condition reflects its age and devotional use: missing feet and finger segments, signs of past restoration (visible arm reattachments at the back).This type of sculpture is characteristic of the Spanish Romanesque crucifixes known as Majestats, frequently found in Catalonia, León, and Aragon. These were often suspended above the nave in churches as part of the “triumphal cross” liturgical tradition, symbolizing the resurrected and victorious Christ, rather than the suffering Redeemer of later Gothic art.

The rigid frontal stance, schematic anatomy, and incised details in the beard and hair are all typical of Iberian Romanesque sculpture, echoing Mozarabic and Byzantine influences.

• Date: 12th Century

• Provenance: Likely northern or northeastern Spain (Catalonia, León)

• Wood: Carved Cypress

• Paint: Original tempera with remnants of polychromy and visible overpainting

• Colors: Ochre, red, brown, ivory

• Dimensions: Approx. 45 x 45 cm

• Condition: Losses to feet and fingers, visible restorations at the rear (arm joints)

• Mounting: Originally intended for liturgical suspension or cross display

  This piece is comparable to major Romanesque crucifixes held in international museum collections:

• Majestat Batlló, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona

• Crucifix from Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain

• Medieval crucifix in the Episcopal Museum of Vic

Such sculptures are key to understanding medieval iconography and theology, and are prized by collectors, historians, and institutions focusing on early Christian art.

Despite its age-related wear, this Christ figure preserves its intense spiritual expression and remains a rare and highly evocative testimony to Romanesque craftsmanship. Its hieratic presence and archaic strength give it a monumental aura, even at modest scale.

Given its rarity, age, and art historical importance, the asked price is appropriate for both private collectors and institutional buyers.

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