Iconography

The Holy face of Jesus of Lucca was one of the most renowned and worshipped holy images in the Western world during the Late Middle Ages. There are, in fact, hundreds of reproductions of this crucifix which differ from each other in technique, material and artistry and which date back both to the Middle Ages and to more recent ages.

This extraordinary iconographic heritage offers a privileged point of view to understand the key role that the Holy Face of Jesus of Lucca had for a long time in the European society, even in some contexts which were not connected directly to the social and cultural environment in Lucca.

Thus, the iconography section of the project ARVO, acquires a special value. In fact, it offers the unique opportunity, which has never been offered before, to collect and organize according to a shared standard a complex of images which are often mostly unknown and, sometimes, even unprecedented. These images can express better than any other document a clear idea of the fortune this crucifix had in the past.

Image Title Dating Position
Volto Santo di Lucca XV secolo Campobasso, San Giorgio Martire, Cappella Ferraguto view
Volto Santo, menestrello (miracolo del calzare d'argento) e monaca XV secolo Cascia (PG), Sant'Antonio (già sacrestia, oggi locale di proprietà privata) view
Volto Santo di Lucca, menestrello (miracolo del calzare d'argento) e santi XV secolo Castelvecchio (BZ), San Vigilio, esterno view
Volto Santo di Lucca tra i Ss. Nicola, Leonardo, Gottardo e Lucia; Annunciazione, Pietà e Ultima Cena XVI sec. Chiesa di Santa Giulia presso Lavagna (GE) view
Codice Rapondi (Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 1988) XV secolo Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 1988 view
Volto Santo di Lucca (Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 487) XIV secolo Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 487 view
Madonna in trono con il Bambino tra il Volto Santo di Lucca e i Ss. Cornelio e Cipriano XV secolo Codiponte (MS), Pieve dei Ss. Cornelio e Cipriano view
Ritrovamento della Vera Croce e Volto Santo di Lucca XVI secolo Colle di Buggiano (PT), San Lorenzo view
Volto Santo di Lucca XV secolo Colognola ai Colli (VR), pieve di Santa Maria view
Crocifisso tunicato XII secolo Colonia, Erzbischöfliches Diözesanmuseum view

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