  
  About the Artwork
  
  
  For medieval Christian viewers, rock crystal could symbolize spiritual purity, clarity of vision, or divine light, and it was often used to create holy objects like this altar cross. The expertly carved crystal was secured into gold settings adorned with delicate botanical motifs. At the center of the cross, the reverse side of the crystal was painted with an image of the Annunciation; the archangel Gabriel holds a scroll bearing the abbreviations of the words &acirc;&#128;&#156;Ave Maria Gracia Plena&acirc;&#128;&#157; [Hail Mary, full of grace] as he greets the Virgin Mary. These figures&acirc;&#128;&#153; wide eyes, sweet faces, and voluminous yet angular robes echo the style of manuscript illuminations from roughly a century earlier, and they may be based on models found in book illustrations.  
The gilt copper base of this altar cross displays the coat of arms of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV (reigned 1328 &acirc;&#128;&#147; 1347), called &acirc;&#128;&#156;The Bavarian&acirc;&#128;&#157; because he descended from the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria. The arms of four prominent Bavarian families surround those of the emperor. Louis spent much of his reign defending his imperial crown against competing claimants, and this cross would have declared not only his claim to divine favor but also the support of his noble subjects.
  
  
  Title
  Altar Cross
  
  
  Artwork Date
  mid-14th century
  
  Artist
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  Life Dates
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  Nationality
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events.
  Some definitions include:
  Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation.
  
  
  
  German
  
  
  
  Culture
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group.
  
  
  
  
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  Medium
  Rock crystal cross with gilt copper base and enamelled heraldic devices
  
  
  Dimensions
  Overall: 29 &Atilde;&#151; 16 &Atilde;&#151; 7 1/2 inches (73.7 &Atilde;&#151; 40.6 &Atilde;&#151; 19.1 cm)
  
  
  Classification
  Metalwork
  
  
  Department
  European Sculpture and Dec Arts
  
  
  Credit
  City of Detroit Purchase
  
  
  
  Accession Number
  
  
  
  This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection.
  Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum&acirc;&#128;&#153;s holdings.
  For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems&acirc;&#128;&#148;no longer assigned&acirc;&#128;&#148;that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups.
  
  
  
  21.197
  
  
  Copyright
  Public Domain
  
  
  
