Double-sided Processional Cro
Historical Context
This double-sided processional cross by the Master of the Gubbio Cross (c. 1310) was designed to be carried aloft during liturgical processions and displayed on the altar of a church in the Umbrian town of Gubbio. Processional crosses were among the most important commissions in medieval Italian art, serving as powerful symbols of community identity and faith. The anonymous master takes his name from this very work, suggesting it represents his most significant surviving achievement.
Technical Analysis
Painted in egg tempera on shaped wooden panel with gold ground, the cross features figural scenes on both faces, allowing it to be viewed from either direction during processions. The style reflects Umbrian Gothic traditions with firm linear drawing and rich, saturated pigments.
