Ancient Crucifixes

Of course the crucifix theme is recurrent in the history of art and over the centuries. One of the most important crucifixes of Western art of all time is found in Piedmont, kept in Vercelli Cathedral Treasury and dating back to the year 1000.
The wooden cross was commissioned by Bishop Leone and features overlapping embossed silver foil decorated with gold, enamel and precious stones. It is an expression of Ottonian art, which is better known for its illuminated manuscripts. The size (327 x 236 cm) and artistic quality of the opus make it a true rarity, while it is similar in type to a crucifix found in Casale Cathedral, taken from Alessandria Cathedral in 1403 by the condottiero Facino Cane.