Corpus (Crucified Christ)
late 1800s-early 1900s
Maker Unknown
African Art
Corpus (Crucified Christ), late 1800s-early 1900s. Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo or Cabinda, Kongo people. Copper alloy; overall: 16.5 x 12.5 x 2.5 cm (6 1/2 x 4 15/16 x 1 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 2010.445 One of two Christian-inspired objects in the Delenne collection identifying the far-reaching networks of trade, diplomacy, religion, and cross-cultural exchange. Kongo Christian symbols were created as spiritual tools to help explain and alleviate the turbulent situation between Central African religion and Catholicism. This figurine is geometric in style, combining both Christian ideals and preexisting Kongo artistic practices. Its pierced hands and feet link him to crucifixion images. This figure combines Kongo artists’ attention to symmetry with the Western depiction of Christ, lifeless on the cross.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Formatted Medium
- Copper alloy
- Dimensions
- Overall: 16.5 x 12.5 x 2.5 cm (6 1/2 x 4 15/16 x 1 in.)
- Departments
- African Art
- Accession Number
- 2010.445
- Credit Line
- René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund
- Exhibitions
- Fragments of the Invisible: The Rene and Odette Delenne Collection of Congo Sculpture, Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, Brussels, Belgium (1945-1949), Leuven, Belgium, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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