Christ Holding a Chalice and Cross (recto)

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

In this drawing a triumphant Christ holds the cross signifying his resurrection, while offering a chalice as a symbol of his blood and sacrifice. In the background, Saint John the Baptist points, identifying Christ as the Lamb (or sacrifice) of God. Alonso Cano was an artist in Baroque Spain who made works primarily in the service of the Catholic Church and Spanish monarchs. Though no related painting is known, the composition is appropriate for an altarpiece, meant as a visual aid to clarify the meaning of the Catholic Mass.

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