The Glorious Cross 1807

Curator: John Flaxman, who lived from 1755 to 1826, created this image, titled 'The Glorious Cross,' now held in the Tate Collections. Editor: The first word that comes to mind is radiance. The figure is haloed, almost overcome by emanating light. It really uses minimalist linework to get at maximum impact. Curator: Note how the figure is framed by these abstract starburst patterns. This reflects the symbolic association of Christ's sacrifice with light and divine glory. Editor: How do you interpret the almost diagrammatic arrangement of these radiant fields? It almost feels detached, clinical. Curator: It's about a symbolic representation, not literal depiction. Flaxman seeks to express profound spiritual truths through simplified imagery, tapping into shared understandings of sacrifice and redemption. Editor: Agreed. I'm struck by how this image, despite its religious subject, opens up to broader ideas about how power is visualized in society. It's more than piety at play. Curator: Absolutely. It is a potent reminder of how symbols can carry immense weight in culture and history.