The GRANDA's restoration and conservation team has carried out the restoration of the processional cross of the Parish Church of San Esteban Protomártir de Cenicientos (Madrid).
This is a two-sided Greek crossof great symbolism made in silver on a wooden core. This processional cross is included in the typology of processional crosses. late 15th and early 16th century Gothic. The cross showed numerous deformations and dents in the metal, breaks and cracks, loss of support and loss of luster with oxidation of the metal as a result of its liturgical use.
The restoration consisted of eliminating deformations as far as the material allowed, eliminating tin soldering, cleaning by mechanical-chemical methods of the oxidation of the metal and other small interventions that have allowed the piece to recover its original beauty.
Artistic description of the piece
On the obverse, on the inside of the quadrilobes, the following is represented the Tetramorphos, with the four evangelistsSt. Mark, St. John, St. Matthew and St. Luke. On the square appears the figure of the risen Christ. On the reverse side, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph or St. Christopher, Adam emerging from the tomb and the pelican feeding its young.
The character that comes out of the tomb refers to Adam who, according to tradition, had been buried on Golgotha. In this way, the first drops of Christ would fall on the grave of Adam, symbolizing, through the redemption of the first man and the first to sin, the salvation of all mankind. The pelican represents the emblem of the sacrifice of Christ and of the Eucharist.
In the square is represented the Christ Cosmocrator (Christ Majesty over the globe of the universe), seated on his throne and surrounded by the mandorla, in attitude of blessing, while holding the ball of the world with his left hand. On both sides, two trumpeter angels accompany him in his Last Judgment. At the feet of the Pantocrator the resurrection of the dead is represented.
