Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque
Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque | |
---|---|
Material | Bronze, gilt[1] openwork, repoussé |
Size | Height: 8.0 cm (3.1 in) Width: 7.3 cm (2.9 in) |
Created | Late-10th or early-11th century |
Period/culture | Early Medieval, Insular |
Place | Clonmacnoise monastery, County Offaly, Ireland |
Present location | National Museum of Ireland, Dublin |
The Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque is a late-10th or early-11th century (often given as c. 1090–1110) Irish gilt-bronze sculpture showing the Crucifixion of Jesus, with two attendant angels hovering above his arms to his immediate left and right. Below them are representations of the Roman soldiers Stephaton (the sponge-bearer) and Longinus (the lance-bearer) driving spears into his chest.
The plaque is one of eight such Early Medieval Irish crucifixion plaques to have survived,[2] but was, in its closely observed detail, especially around the figure's clothing, described by the art historian Máire de Paor as the "most charming of the series".[3] It measures 8.0 cm (3.1 in) x 7.3 cm (2.9 in), and was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Dublin, in 1935.[4]
Description
Christ is shown as still alive and with open eyes.[6] His head and outstretched arms are disproportionally large compared to the rest of his body, and he is clothed in a long chasuble (a type of liturgical vestment) that reaches to his knees. He is smiling despite the nail-heads or puncture wounds in the palms of each of his hand, which have been incurred from the spears held by Stephaton and Longinus.[7]
The panel is similar to the more well known and earlier Rinnegan (or Athlone) Crucifixion Plaque in its rendering of the figure's hair and garments.[8]
In addition, it contains a number of resemblances to a stone cross on the Calf of Man island off the southwest coast of the Isle of Man. In that work, Christ is also depicted with a moustache, forked beard and long hair, and is also similar (and closer in date) to Christ in the Rinnegan plaque, while bearing resemblance to the cleric on the 11th century side panel of the Soiscél Molaisse.[9] The figures are surrounded by a rectangular frame, the lower border of which Jesus, Stephaton and Longinus stand. No part of the cross is visible.[4]
Function
Art historians believe that it was built as an attachment to a larger metal or wooden object given that the reverse is flat and unadorned, and that it contains eight rivet-holes (only one river -or nail- remains) on the outer borders.[10] However it is unknown as to what the precise intention was; likely such plaques adorned book covers, stone altar frontals or wooden crosses.[11][12][2]
Notes
- ^ Johnson (1998), p. 98
- ^ a b Moss (2014), p. 272
- ^ de Paor (1954), p. 40
- ^ a b de Paor (1954), p. 35
- ^ de Paor (1954), p. 38
- ^ Mitchell (1977), p. 99
- ^ Harbison (2000), p. 12
- ^ de Paor (1954), p. 37
- ^ de Paor (1954), pp. 37–38
- ^ de Paor (1954), pp. 97
- ^ Mitchell (1977), p. 91
- ^ Johnson (1998), p. 97
Sources
- Johnson, Ruth. "Irish Crucifixion Plaques: Viking Age or Romanesque?". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, volume 128, 1998. JSTOR 25549845
- Harbison, Peter. "A lost crucifixion plaque of Clonmacnoise type found in County Mayo". ̄Irish Midland Studies: essays in commemoration of N.W. English, Athlone, 1980
- Mitchell, G. Frank. "Foreign Influences and the Beginnings of Christian Art". In: Treasures of early Irish art, 1500 B.C. to 1500 A.D: From the collections of the National Museum of Ireland, Royal Irish Academy, Trinity College Dublin. NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1977. ISBN 978-0-8709-9164-6
- Moss, Rachel. Medieval c. 400—c. 1600: Art and Architecture of Ireland. London: Yale University Press, 2014. ISBN 978-0-3001-7919-4
- de Paor, Máire. "An Openwork Crucifixion Plaque from Clonmacnoise". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, volume 84, no. 1, 1954. JSTOR 25509155
Further reading
- Kelly, Dorothy. "Crucifivion Plaques". Irish Arts Review Yearbook, 1990
- v
- t
- e
- Ballinderry Brooch (late 6th or early 7th c)
- Rinnegan Crucifixion Plaque (late 7th or early 8th century)
- Hunterston Brooch (c. 700)
- Book of Durrow (c. 700)
- Tara Brooch (c. 710-750)
- Lichfield Gospels (c. 730)
- Lindisfarne Gospels (c. 730)
- Ardagh Chalice (c. 750)
- Rogart Brooch (8th c.)
- Moylough Belt-Shrine (8th c.)
- St. Fillan's Crozier (8th c.)
- Book of Dimma (8th c.)
- Ruthwell Cross (8th c.)
- Breadalbane Brooch (8th c.)
- Monymusk Reliquary (8th c.)
- Stowe Missal (after 792)
- Tully Lough Cross (8th or 9th c.)
- Londesborough Brooch (8th or 9th c.)
- Derrynaflan Chalice (8th or 9th c.)
- Domnach Airgid (8th or 9th & 14 c.)
- Kilmainham Brooch (late 8th or early 9th c.)
- Book of Kells (9th c.)
- Book of Armagh (9th c.)
- Prosperous Crozier, (late 9th or early 10th c.)
- Muiredach's High Cross (9th or 10th c.)
- Kells Crozier (c. 9–11th c.)
- Ardboe High Cross (10th c.)
- Corp Naomh (10th and 15th c.)
- Soiscél Molaisse (c. 1001–1011)
- Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque (late 10th or early 11th c.)
- Bell Shrine of St. Mura (11th c.)
- Breac Maodhóg (c. 11th c.)
- Shrine of Miosach (11th c.)
- Cathach of St. Columba (shrine: late 11th c.)
- Clonmacnoise Crozier (late 11th c.)
- River Laune Crozier (late 11th c.)
- Shrine of St. Patrick's Bell (c. 1094–1105)
- Lismore Crozier (c. 1100)
- Shrine of Saint Lachtin's Arm (c. 1120)
- Bell Shrine of St. Cuileáin (late-11th c.)
- Cross of Cong (early 12th c.)
- Shrine of St Patrick's Tooth (12th & late 14th c.)
- Raghnall Ó Floinn
- Peter Harbison
- Griffin Murray
- Rachel Moss
- Máire de Paor (d. 1994)
- George Petrie (d. 1866)
- Margaret Stokes (d. 1900)