Tri-Bar Cross of the Crucifixion

Name/Title

Tri-Bar Cross of the Crucifixion

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.090

Description

Bronze crucifixion cross in the Eastern Orthodox/Greek Orthodox tri-bar style with the additional horizontal line at the top and diagonal line near the bottom. The top bar shows a bearded man with long beard and mustache against a halo shrouded on the sides with cloth detailing. Two angels pose below him flanking a caption written in the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. Below, Christ is nailed with hands outstretched in loincloth and gold halo. There is fine detailing in his ribcage and stomach area. Additional Russian captions sit along the bar under his hands, as do circular renditions of the sun and moon. In the bottom half of the cross, the letters МЛРБ (MLRB/"Mesto Lobnoe Ray Buist" or "The Place of the Skull Becomes Paradise") sit on either side of the diagonal line. Below that sits a human skull in foliage.

Type of Painting

Panel

Collection

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2005.02

Source or Donor

Betsy Scheuring

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

Made/Created

Time Period

19th Century

Place

Country

Russia

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

Between the two winged figures at the top of the cross

Translation

Guardian Angel, the Venerable Zosima and the Venerable Sabbatius

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Icon

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Symbol, Religious

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Religious Objects

Nomenclature Class

Ceremonial Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

10-1/2 in

Width

5-1/2 in

Exhibition

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

The tri-bar cross alludes to the Crucifixion and on the topmost bar appears “The Image Not Made By Hands” (the face of Christ on a cloth). Below are the Archangels Gabriel and Michael and on the second bar appear the outstretched arms of Christ, as well as the sun and moon, respectively said to have darkened and turned to blood during the Crucifixion. At Christ’s sides appear the spear which pierced his side and the sponge on a reed substituting vinegar for water. A small scene of Jerusalem appears on the Cross’s third bar. Directly below Christ is the skull of Adam, whose tomb was said to be at Golgotha.