Altar cross

Author: António Rodrigues Leão

Date: 1767 – 1768

Material: White and gilt silver

Dimensions (cm): H 159 x W 52

Provenance: Guimarães, Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Inventory No.: MAS O 20

 

This altar cross is inspired by imported models of the Roman Baroque, extensively disseminated in Portuguese religious silverware: a salient triangular base resting on claw feet, elongated stem ornamented with scrolls, shells and cherubs. The cross of plain silver has reeded edges, the ends terminating equally in decoration of scrolls shells and angel’s heads and it presents a halo of radiating rays behind the cross and the body of the crucified Christ.

On the base of the cross, there’s a cartouche with the arms of Paulo de Carvalho.

This is the only surviving piece of a set of altar vessels, composed of the cross and of eight candlesticks (confiscated by the French in 1808), which was commissioned by Dom Paulo de Carvalho e Mendonça, prior of the Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and brother of the first Marquis of Pombal, in Lisbon to modernize the silver plate in use at the church.