Antique Ivory Crucifix Gilt Gesso Frame

An Antique Ivory Crucifix with the original Gilt Gesso Frame. The figure of Christ is finely carved in pure ivory. This figure is mounted on a wooden gilt gesso frame with a red velvet backing. Artistic attention to detailed rendering of hair, fingers and facial features is quite nice. The eyes of Christ are directed towards heaven, indicating a living Savior suffering on the cross.

Condition: There is damage and loss to one foot, and to some of the gilt gesso. Please see photographs for these, as well as for the dimensions.

The Jansenist movement originated in the 1600's somewhat in response to Jesuit teaching of free will. The Dutch theologian and Roman Catholic bishop, Cornelius Jansen, emphasized predestination as opposed to the Jesuit teachings of free will. Also a less assuring doctrine, proposing that salvation was indeterminate and impossible without Divine Grace, along with declaring no resistance to Divine Grace could be undertaken by Man. The branch was deemed heretical by Rome, and outlawed in 1712. This bit of history helps us to date the crucifix.