Hand Cross

The hand cross belongs to the typological subgroup of liturgical crosses intended for worship. Items for liturgical use constitute a quantitatively large and iconographically rich group. In the Eastern Rite, such items appeared in the 15th century. The cross from the village of Khvativ is seven-pointed (no upper frame), with an elongated middle crosspiece with a long handle, made using the technique of contour, notched and flat-relief carving, which allows the carved elements to rise above the background. On the front side of the hand-carved cross is the Crucifix, which occupies the middle cross and the main part of the stem. Christ is carved as a crucified figure with his arms outstretched, and his feet interlocked, which is a feature of the Western iconographic tradition. The artist's interpretation of the figure shows an attempt to convey the anatomical features of the human body. Above the Crucifixion is the title with the inscription "INRI", and at the lower end is Adam's skull. The background around the image is treated with vertical slits. At the ends of the middle and lower frames are carved images of cherubs with a clear contour line and outlined details. In the central part of the back of the cross is an iconographic scene of the Baptism of the Lord. The composition is based on a profile image of John the Baptist with his hand raised above Jesus. Below are stylised waves of the Jordan River. The background of the back of the cross is modelled with parallel vertical slits. At the ends of all the edges are graphic reliefs of cherubs. There is a narrow strip along the contour of the cross profiling, an "ark", the background is recessed, and the contour and relief images on both sides do not protrude beyond the main surface of the piece.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery