PROCESSIONAL CROSS. SILVER. WITH HALLMARKS. BARBASTRO (ARAGÓN), SPAIN, 16TH CENTURY.

Processional cross. Gilded silver. Barbastro (Aragon), Spain, 16th century. With contrast and chisel marks (foot, surroundings of Christ). Latin-type processional cross made of gilded silver, with a foot formed by a cylindrical barrel that increases in width towards the end and has been decorated with floral elements within rhomboidal spaces, an almost spherical apple with male busts in relief (possibly the four Evangelists) and plant elements in composition similar to the one mentioned, and a molded upper body enhanced with fine plant stems that transform into “round bulge” monsters. The cross presents a crest in its contour of vegetal elements, masks (just in the widenings enhanced by an oval molding with corners) and vegetal and architectural compositions of classicist influence with winged angel heads (at the quadrifoliated ends of the same, enhanced with moldings and plant details). In the rest of the areas of the two main fronts of the same, there is a decoration of oval mirrors with frames of smooth bands and coiled volutes; The sides are smooth. On one of the fronts of the piece, the figure of Christ Crucified is located (three nails, short purity cloth, fallen head); On the other, and on a triangular openwork base with a clear Gothic memory, the crowned Virgin Mary appears standing, with the Child Jesus in her arms. It is necessary to indicate the survival in the present piece of some details of Spanish Gothic silverwork (crestwork - which appears around the 15th century -, flordelised finials of the cross - or similar shapes -, widenings on the arms of the cross, etc.) , along with elements that already respond to Renaissance influences (shape and decoration of the foot and apple, elements in slight relief around the Crucified, winged angel heads, masks, etc.). Likewise, it is possible to compare it with processional crosses such as the Buerba one in the Diocesan Museum of Barbastro-Monzón (from the 16th century, with a striking repertoire of late-Renaissance elements and certain similarities with the present one); some preserved in the Diocesan Museum of Barbastro (that of Trillo from the 15th century, for example); that of Bagüés de Zaragoza from the 16th century from the Diocesan Museum of Jaca; the one made in Burgos around 1550 that is today in the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (United States); etc Weight: 2200 gr.

· Size: 36x13x73 cms.