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Source Description
This is a typical devotional image for private meditation, produced in large numbers and not very expensive. Its value lay in the subject. Depictions of Christ on easily reproducible bronze plaquettes and medals were popular in Renaissance Italy and were widely exported. Inscriptions on other examples indicate that this profile image of Christ was regarded as an authentic portrait.The letters "I N R I" stand for "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum," "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." This is the inscription that, according to the Evangelist John, Pilate had written on the plaque above Christ's head on the cross. The sun and moon allude to the cosmic significance of his sacrifice.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
23328
label
Plaquette with the Head of Christ
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
23328
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Plaquette with the Head of Christ
description
This is a typical devotional image for private meditation, produced in large numbers and not very expensive. Its value lay in the subject. Depictions of Christ on easily reproducible bronze plaquettes and medals were popular in Renaissance Italy and were widely exported. Inscriptions on other examples indicate that this profile image of Christ was regarded as an authentic portrait.The letters "I N R I" stand for "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum," "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." This is the inscription that, according to the Evangelist John, Pilate had written on the plaque above Christ's head on the cross. The sun and moon allude to the cosmic significance of his sacrifice.
provenance
Elia Volpi, Florence; Sale, Davanzati Palace and Villa Pia Collections, American Art Association, New York, 1916, no. 30; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1916, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1500 (?) (Renaissance)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
plaquettes
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
10
height
6.7
depth
1.2
dimensionsRaw
3 15/16 x 2 5/8 x 7/16 in. (10 x 6.7 x 1.2 cm)
Source extras
style
Renaissance
inscriptions
[Transcription] I N R I
med
bronze
creator_ids
6191
33562
collection_ids
REN
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
2f1294bbb5e051a3