Lamentation over the dead Christ, pax
(early 16th century)
- Medium
- gilt-bronze
- Measurements
- 12.0 × 7.2 × 0.4 cm
- Accession Number
- 4143-D3
- Department
- International Decorative Arts
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bequest of Howard Spensley, 1939 - Gallery location
- 14th - 16th Century Gallery - Painting & Decorative Arts
Level 1, NGV International - About this work
-
This pax bears an image of the Virgin and St John supporting the body of Christ in his tomb, in a scene referred to as The Man of Sorrows. In a lunette above this scene appear the figure of God the Father and the dove of the Holy Spirit. The body of Christ was held up and presented to us, the viewers, just as the Eucharist, the sanctified bread of Christ’s body, was presented to the congregation. The image emphasises the belief in the material presence of Christ in the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
- Physical description
- Pax. Pieta with God the Father above in the lunette, gilded bronze, North Italian (Paduan).