St Clares :  How to read the church                                     

Return to How to read the church

Crucifix

From about the thirteenth century, crucifixes increasingly memorialized Jesus' suffering and death. A crucifix scene is depicted in the centre panel of the triptych series of paintings behind the altar. The crucifix shows Jesus on the cross,  with his head to one side ( The convention is for the head to hang to the 'good' right) and he is shown as having just died. He is wearing the crown of thorns, and is nailed through the palms of his hands and through his feet. A cut just below the ribs shows where Jesus was speared as he hung on the cross.

A crucifix cross stands, flanked by candles immediately under the triptych and behind the altar table.