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The Crucifixion with St. Longinus: M.4-1993

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

The Crucifixion with St. Longinus

Maker(s)

Silversmith: Heckel, Christopher

Entities

Categories

Description

Silver, embossed and chased with the scene of Christ on the Cross with Mary Magdalene, St. John and the Virgin Mary on the right and sponge-bearer, St. Longinus and standard bearer on the left

Silver; the oval plaque is embossed, chased, engraved and matted with a scene from the Crucifixion. Christ hangs on the Cross in the centre with, over his head, a scroll inscribed 'Jesus of Na/ zareth/ the King/ of the Jews'. On the right Mary Magdalene clasps the Cross while St. John and the Virgin Mary stand beside her. On the left there is a bearded, partly draped man holding a sponge on a staff (traditionally known at Stephaton), a Roman soldier in armour on horseback (known in the Eastern and Greek Orthodox tradition as St. Longinus) and another partly visible mounted man holding a banner engraved with a single-headed spread eagle. Behind the cross on both sides there are clouds, those on the right supporting two cherubs. At the foot of the Cross there is a skull and below that a plain area engraved with the signature. The edge is slightly raised and chased with a narrow band of chevron decoration. The plaque is mounted in an oval frame of ebonised wood with moulded border and turquoise velvet inner rim, and a hinged, brass support. On the back of the frame are two labels. A paper label laid on card behind a glazed frame is inscribed 'Bequeathed to John Towneley,/ by her Grace Catherine, Dutchess of/ Norfolk, who departed this life on the/ 21st Novr. 1734 -/ R.I.P. (The inscription has been strengthened by a later hand, changing the correct date of 1784 to 1734.) A second lable, which is torn, bears the name of W. Range 'W. ANCE,/CARVER GILDER,/ LOOKING GLASS AND PICTURE/ FRAME MANUFACTURER/ 166 SLO E ST. CHELSEA/ AND KE STREET,/ GROSVE SQUARE, W / RED'.

Notes

History note: Catherine, wife of the 10th Duke of Norfolk (d. 1784) by whom bequeathed to John Townley of Chiswick (d. 1813) and then by descent to the vendor; purchased through Robert Holden Ltd., 15 Savile Row, London, W1X 1AB

Legal notes

Given by the Friends of the Fitzwilliam, bought from Robert Holden Ltd.

Place(s) associated

  • London ⪼ Germany

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1993-10-11) by The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum

Dating

18th Century, Late
George III
Production date: circa AD 1778

Note

Christopher Heckel was German, but worked in London

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Frame Depth 4.5 cm Depth 1¾ in Height 33.3 cm Height 13⅛ in Width 28 cm Width 11 in
Plaque Height 26.5 cm Height 10½ in Width 21.5 cm Width 8½ in
Decoration

Materials used in production

Silver

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: Cr. Heckel
  • Location: At the foot of the sign
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Signature
  • Text: Jesus of Na/ zareth/ the king/ of the Jews
  • Location: On the scroll nailed to the top of the Cross
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Inscription
  • Text: LORD O HAGAN
  • Location: On reverseof plaque
  • Method of creation: Hand-written in black ink
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.4-1993
Primary reference Number: 119279
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 15 July 2020 Last processed: Monday 18 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "The Crucifixion with St. Longinus" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/119279 Accessed: 2024-03-28 16:42:43

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/119279 |title=The Crucifixion with St. Longinus |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-28 16:42:43|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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