Tempera and gold on parchmentexpand_more
The Washburn Fundexpand_more 23.66
Crucifixion scenes are among the few painted miniatures typically found in missals, the books that guide priests celebrating Catholic Mass. This exquisite Crucifixion appears at the start of the canon, the most solemn part of the Mass. The pen-flourished initials C and M on the facing page are enhanced with fine linear embellishments in red and blue. The rest of the text is written in a late-medieval script called littera textualis, which emphasizes the word unit rather than single letters.
This missal once belonged to the Dominican convent of Heiligen Kreuz (Holy Cross) in Regensburg, Germany—hence the tiny Dominican monk at the base of the cross. The convent was founded in 1233, eleven years after Saint Dominic’s death.
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know