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Altar Cross
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This cross is traditionally said to come from the Benedictine Abbey of Meherau on Lake Constance in today’s Austria. During the 12th and 13th centuries the abbey became wealthy through the acquisition of landed property. This beautiful cross would have likely embellished one of the abbey’s many altars where it symbolized Christ’s presence in the Mass.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineAltar Cross, c. 1300–1310. Germany or Austria, Upper Rhine, Constance, 14th century. Gilt copper, champlevé enamel, gemstones, on wood core; without base: 50.2 x 39.4 cm (19 3/4 x 15 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1942.1091
