The Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque is a late-10th or early-11th century (often given as c. 1090–1110) Irish gilt-bronze sculpture showing the Crucifixion of Jesus, with two attendant angels hovering above his arms to his immediate left and right. Below them are representations of the Roman soldiers Stephaton (the sponge-bearer) and Longinus (the lance-bearer) driving spears into his chest.
The plaque is one of eight such Early Medieval Irish crucifixion plaques to have survived,[2] but was, in its closely observed detail, especially around the figure's clothing, described by the art historian Máire de Paor as the "most charming of the series".[3] It measures 8.0 cm (3.1 in) x 7.3 cm (2.9 in), and was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Dublin, in 1935.[4]
Description
19th century drawing of a crucifixion scene from a cross on the Calf of Man[5]
Christ is shown as still alive and with open eyes.[6] His head and outstretched arms are disproportionally large compared to the rest of his body, and he is clothed in a long chasuble (a type of liturgical vestment) that reaches to his knees. He is smiling despite the nail-heads or puncture wounds in the palms of each of his hand, which have been incurred from the spears held by Stephaton and Longinus.[7]
The plaque contains a number of resemblances to a stone cross on the Calf of Man island off the southwest coast of the Isle of Man. In that work, Christ is also depicted with a moustache, forked beard and long hair, and is also similar (and closer in date) to Christ in the Rinnegan plaque, while bearing resemblance to the cleric on the 11th century side panel of the Soiscél Molaisse.[9] The figures are surrounded by a rectangular frame, the lower border of which Jesus, Stephaton and Longinus stand. No part of the cross is visible.[4]
Function
Archaeologists believe that it was built as an attachment to a larger metal or wooden object given that the reverse is flat and unadorned, and that it contains eight rivet-holes (only one rivet –or nail– remains) on the outer borders.[10] It is unknown as to what the precise intention was; such plaques adorned wooden crosses, book covers or altar frontals.[11][12][2]
Johnson, Ruth. "Irish Crucifixion Plaques: Viking Age or Romanesque?". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, volume 128, 1998. JSTOR25549845
Harbison, Peter. "A lost crucifixion plaque of Clonmacnoise type found in County Mayo". ̄Irish Midland Studies: essays in commemoration of N.W. English, Athlone, 1980
de Paor, Máire. "An Openwork Crucifixion Plaque from Clonmacnoise". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, volume 84, no. 1, 1954. JSTOR25509155
Further reading
Kelly, Dorothy. "Crucifivion Plaques". Irish Arts Review Yearbook, 1990
