Erper cross
The Erper Cross , which is named after its place of origin Erp , is in the Kolumba Diocesan Museum in Cologne. It is one of the most important works of Romanesque sculpture in the Rhineland . It is an approximately three meter high wooden cross (walnut and softwood) with a 146 cm tall, draped figure of Christ , which was created in the second half of the 12th century. It is one of the few crosses from this period and in this size almost completely preserved.
history
In 1899 discovered provincial conservator Paul Clemen , who strove for an inventory of all monuments of the Rhine Province, in Erp in disused ossuary in the cemetery , a crucifix there with two sculptures - Mary and John - a crucifixion group, also Calvary called, formed . The cross was only slightly damaged. The figure was painted gray, but remnants of the old painting could still be seen. Clemen described the crucifix, the creation of which he dated the end of the 12th century, as "an extremely beautiful sculpture that is one of the most important monuments of Rhenish Romanesque sculpture". It probably originally hung as a triumphal cross in a larger church, but its origin can no longer be determined.
Clemens negotiations with the director of the royal museums in Berlin , who wanted to purchase the crucifix for 800 marks, failed because of the Erper pastor, who preferred to give the crucifix to the archbishopric diocesan museum in Cologne . Domkapitular Alexander Schnütgen , who examined the crucifix, recognized its value and tried to acquire the work of art for the Cologne Diocesan Museum, but the Erpers wanted to have it restored for the parish church. After lengthy negotiations, Schnütgen succeeded in convincing the pastor and the church council that the cross was not suitable for installation in their church, but rather that it belongs in a museum. When he offered to restore the two figures at the museum's expense and to give them a matching cross, everyone agreed to transfer the crucifix to the museum as property on the condition that the place of origin "Erp" be given. In August 1902 it was transferred to Cologne.
During the Second World War , the Erper Kreuz was relocated along with other works of art near Neustadt an der Wied . In 1949 it was brought back to Cologne from there.
In 1950 the Erp pastor received from Cardinal Frings, against the concerns of the museum management, the permission to borrow the valuable work of art from the Cologne Diocesan Museum during Lent until the day after Ascension Day and to display it in the church in Erp. The local newspapers reported on the return of the cross, the numerous visitors and the events. After much hesitation and further correspondence, the pastor was ready to fulfill his written obligation to return the crucifix undamaged on the specified date. After the return, the board of the museum decided not to allow the cross to be borrowed any more.
The Erper Cross is exhibited today in a prominent place in the Kolumba Diocesan Museum in Cologne . It is also shown in the new praise of God , the Catholic prayer and hymn book.
The crucifix is clad in a tunic that extends to the ankles . Over it he wears a coat thrown over his left shoulder . The feet are next to each other, the knees are slightly raised to the right. The head with long curls falling on the shoulder and a wide beard is slightly inclined. The undergarment is slit on the right side and reveals the naked body with the open side. The inclined head of the crucifix is strikingly small compared to the body proportions.
The crucifix bears many features of book illuminations with depictions of the crucifixion from the Ottonian period, such as that in a gospel book from Abdinghof (today Hessian State Library Kassel), in the Fulda Sacramentary (today University Library Göttingen) and in the Essen Sacramentary (today University and State Library Düsseldorf ). This type of figure was only rarely repeated in the Romanesque period.
Presumably, the damaged crucifix was reworked in the 2nd half of the 12th century according to the old model according to the feelings of the people who had become alien to the idea of the victorious Savior and judge of the world. Another piety had developed in which the suffering and death of Christ were in the foreground. However, one could not decide on a completely new cross because one attached special importance to the work. A restoration study revealed that the cross originally contained relics. Larger nails were found on the back, which could be interpreted as a holder for relics. They were forcibly bent open, so it is assumed that the relics were stolen.
Individual evidence
- ^ Paul Clemen: The art monuments of the district of Euskirchen. Düsseldorf 1900. pp. 33-34
- ↑ "Ornamenta Ecclesiae 2". Exhibition catalog. Cologne 1985. p. 384.
- ^ Erp parish archives, letter from the cathedral capitular Schnütgen to the pastor, published in Everhard Ismar: History of the parish and church of St. Pantaleon Erp. 1994. pp. 3-4
- ^ Historical archive of the Archdiocese of Cologne Diocesan Museum No. 81
- ^ Historical archive of the Archdiocese of Cologne holdings Diözesanmuseum No. 81
- ↑ Kölnische Rundschau on March 30, 1950, and April 24, 1950; Kölner Stadtanzeiger on May 9, 1950
- ^ Historical archive of the Archdiocese of Cologne holdings Diözesanmuseum No. 81
- ↑ Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger from February 9, 2014
- ↑ "Ornamenta Ecclesiae 2". Cologne 1985, p. 384.
- ↑ Ulrike Surmann: Crucifix from Erp. Diocesan Museum Cologne. April 1995
- ↑ Alexa Jansen: The Cologne Diocesan Museum. Treasures for St. Kolumba. Kölner Stadtanzeiger from June 6, 2008