Crucifixion
- Attributed to
- Pietro di Miniato, Italian, 1366–c.1450
- Date
- 1400–1420
- Material
- Tempera and gold leaf on wood panel
- made in
- Tuscany region, Italy, Europe
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- European Art to 1800
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 222
- Dimensions
- 86 1/2 x 57 in. (219.7 x 144.8 cm)
- Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 107:1932
NOTES
Flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist in this painting, Christ appears close to death. Commissioned by the Poor Clares, an order of Franciscan nuns, this cross formerly hung above the altar in a Tuscan church. Appropriate to the Franciscans' devotional focus on Christ's sacrifice, a nun kneels in prayer at his feet. This theme is underscored by the mother pelican who sustains her young with her own blood, an erroneous medieval understanding of the bird that caused it to become a Christian symbol.
Provenance
-1906
Kunsthandlung Julius Böhler, Munich, Germany
1906 - 1930
Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, Germany, purchased from Kunsthandlung Julius Böhler [1]
1930 - 1932
A. S. Drey, Munich, Germany, and New York, NY, USA, acquired from the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum [2]
1932 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from A. S. Drey [3]
Notes:
[1] Museum correspondence states that the painting came into the collection of the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum through the art dealer Julius Böhler and accessioned as MA 4157 [e-mail from Dr. Matthias Weniger, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, dated July 24, 2012, SLAM document files]. The Crucifixion was included in the 1908 Catalog of Paintings in the Bavarian National Museums [Voll, Karl, Heinz Braune, and Hans Buchheit. "Katalog der Gemälde des Bayerischen National-Museums." München: Bayerisches Nationalmuseums Verlag, 1908, p. 150, cat. no. 480].
[2] In the email referenced in note [1], Dr. Weniger stated that the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum deaccessioned the work May 27, 1930 to A. S. Drey.
[3] Invoice from A. S. Drey dated December 17, 1932 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, January 5, 1933.
Kunsthandlung Julius Böhler, Munich, Germany
1906 - 1930
Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, Germany, purchased from Kunsthandlung Julius Böhler [1]
1930 - 1932
A. S. Drey, Munich, Germany, and New York, NY, USA, acquired from the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum [2]
1932 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from A. S. Drey [3]
Notes:
[1] Museum correspondence states that the painting came into the collection of the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum through the art dealer Julius Böhler and accessioned as MA 4157 [e-mail from Dr. Matthias Weniger, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, dated July 24, 2012, SLAM document files]. The Crucifixion was included in the 1908 Catalog of Paintings in the Bavarian National Museums [Voll, Karl, Heinz Braune, and Hans Buchheit. "Katalog der Gemälde des Bayerischen National-Museums." München: Bayerisches Nationalmuseums Verlag, 1908, p. 150, cat. no. 480].
[2] In the email referenced in note [1], Dr. Weniger stated that the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum deaccessioned the work May 27, 1930 to A. S. Drey.
[3] Invoice from A. S. Drey dated December 17, 1932 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, January 5, 1933.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.