1983 Royal Academy of Arts Poster, Cimabue Crucifix, Italian artist gallery exhibition, wall art decor

1983 Royal Academy of Arts Poster, Cimabue Crucifix, Italian artist gallery exhibition, wall art decor

This exhibition poster is from the Royal Academy of Arts for an exhibition in 1983 featuring the "Cimabue Crucifix". It features Cimabue's work, "Cimabue Crucifix" a religious cross from the 13th century..
Dimensions: 30.3 in x 20.1 in (77 cm x 51 cm)

The Crucifix by Cimabue at Santa Croce (c. 1265) is a wooden crucifix, painted in distemper, attributed to the Florentine painter and mosaicist Cimabue, one of two large crucifixes attributed to him. The work was commissioned by the Franciscan friars of Santa Croce and is built from a complex arrangement of five main and eight ancillary timber boards. It is one of the first Italian artworks to break from the late medieval Byzantine style and is renowned for its technical innovations and humanistic iconography.

The gilding and monumentality of the cross link it to the Byzantine tradition. Christ's static pose is reflective of this style, while the work overall incorporates newer, more naturalistic aspects. The work presents a lifelike and physically imposing depiction of the passion at Calvary. Christ is shown nearly naked: his eyes are closed, his face lifeless and defeated. His body slumps in a position contorted by prolonged agony. A graphic portrayal of human suffering, the painting is of seminal importance in art history and has influenced painters from Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Velázquez to Francis Bacon.

What is special about exhibition and gallery posters is that they are an affordable way of getting good, unique art on the walls, as although it is not an artists original, neither is it something that has been mass reproduced.

Because of the age of these posters, there are areas of wear and tear, particularly on the edges. I have done my best to take photos where they are torn. The good news is that when framed, the tears press up well against glass, and edges can be hidden by mats. Any wear picked up from years are part of the charm.

These posters are sent as unframed. They are delivered in a cardboard-backed envelope for protection. They have been stored folded.

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