Key Objects
Christ the King
Key Object for the Time Period 1000-1200
This figure of Christ is from Ufsir from a cross which is now lost. The figure is carved in birchwood in the Romanesque style. It was originally painted, and traces of paint remain. The crucifix hung in the church at Ufsir, North Iceland. It is believed to be made in Iceland, and to date from around AD 1200.
Christ is depicted bearded, with hair shoulder-length hair. He wears a loincloth, as was customary in such images, and stands upright on a pedestal, with his head uplifted, eyes open, and arms at right angles to the body; these features are typical of the Romanesque style.
Romanesque crosses were common until about 1200 AD. They were followed by Gothic crosses, where Christ is depicted wearing the martyr’s crown of thorns, hanging in a deathlike pose with head bowed.
Crucifixes were found in most Catholic churches. During the Reformation in the 16th century, many images of saints were destroyed, but crosses were generally left untouched.