Hand Cross

unknown

  • Hand Cross 2
  • Hand Cross 3
Basic information
ID
С-II-744
Author
unknown
Name
Hand Cross
Date of creation
19th c.
Country
Ukraine
Technique
carving
Material
wood
Dimensions (height x width x depth, cm)
17.3 x 6.7 x 2
Information about author
Author
unknown
Country
Object description
The handmade cross is six-pointed with a short handle and is made with a flat carving technique. The compositional solution is simple and laconic, without multi-figure scenes. On the front side, the folk master placed the Crucifix in the central core. The figure of Christ with outstretched arms and head tilted to the right shoulder is modelled flat. The background around Christ is shallowly set, with vertical lines and grooves. Two waist-length figures, possibly crouching, can be seen at the ends of the second frame. The author used only shallow undercuts. The figure of Christ is schematised with little elaboration. The upper frame is separated from the main composition and creates a separate plane, framed by a smooth stripe and parallel diagonal lines. There is an illegible inscription on the base of the upper crossbar. On the back of the cross is a waist-length figure, probably of Mary (the carving has significant losses on the base of the central core). On both sides of the image, at the ends of the second frame, there are reliefs of figures made using the technique of flat carving with minor reproductions of details. The framing of the outline of the handmade cross around the perimeter is smooth and follows the shape of the edges. The graphic, geometric and simplified nature of the images reveals the authorship of a folk artist.
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery