There is one other image of this object. This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions), and as such we offer a high-resolution image of it. See our image rights statement.
See more objects with the color tan dimgrey grey darkslategrey or see all the colors for this object.
Object Timeline
|
-0001 |
|
|
1938 |
|
|
2014 |
|
|
2025 |
|
Drawing, Design for the Base of the Silver Crucifix for the High Altar of Saint Peter's, Rome, Italy
This is a Drawing. It was attributed to Carlo Spagna and after Antonio Gentilili da Faenza. It is dated 1670–72 and we acquired it in 1938. Its medium is pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, black chalk on off-white laid paper; verso: black chalk. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.
In 1671, the papal nephew Cardinal Francesco Barberini commissioned Carlo Spagna to create four candlesticks for the high altar of Saint Peter's, Rome. These were designed to coordinate with an existing cross and pair of candlesticks made in 1578 by Antonio Gentili, from silver that once composed Charlemagne’s cross. Expansion of the altar garniture was necessary to increase its visibility beneath the showy new baldacchino that Bernini had designed for the high altar. Spagna made this drawing to familiarize himself with the appearance and structure of Gentili’s design. He raised the crucifix by inserting two bands of ornament featuring the heraldic Barberini bees. His candlestick designs closely follow the Gentili silhouette, including sensually straining figures inspired by Michelangelo Buonarroti’s sculptures of slaves. Today, the entire group of seven objects is normally found in the Vatican Treasury and are used only on rare occasions.
It is credited Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
- Chalice Cover (Italy)
- linen.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1896-1-112
- Cope Hood (Italy)
- silk and metallic embroidery on linen foundation.
- Gift of John Pierpont Morgan.
- 1902-1-909
- Drawing, Interior of St. Peter's Illuminated
- pen and black ink, brush and brown wash, white gouache on cream laid paper,....
- Bequest of Joseph F. McCrindle.
- 2009-4-3
Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Chasuble
- silk and metallic embroidery, silk foundation, linen backing, silk lining.
- Gift of George A. Hearn.
- 1907-14-1
- Stole (Germany)
- silk, linen, metallic.
- Gift of John Pierpont Morgan.
- 1902-1-404
- Print, "Title Plate," Plate 1 from "Goldsmith Ornament Designs"
- engraving on off-white laid paper.
- Museum purchase from Friends of Drawings and Prints Fund.
- 1999-51-1
Its dimensions are
49.2 x 33 cm (19 3/8 x 13 in.)
It has the following markings
Stamp in brown ink, verso lower right: Cooper Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration, Lugt 457e.
It is inscribed
Inscribed in pen and brown ink, lower right verso: 8
Cite this object as
Drawing, Design for the Base of the Silver Crucifix for the High Altar of Saint Peter's, Rome, Italy; Attributed to Carlo Spagna (Italian, ca. 1641 - 1680); After Antonio Gentilili da Faenza (Italian, 1519 – 1609); Italy; pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, black chalk on off-white laid paper; verso: black chalk; 49.2 x 33 cm (19 3/8 x 13 in.); Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund; 1938-88-6982
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Hewitt Sisters Collect.
