Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque
# Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque

The Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque is a late-10th or early-11th century (often given as c. 1090–1110) Irish gilt-bronze sculpture showing the Crucifixion of Jesus, with two attendant angels hovering above his arms to his immediate left and right. Below them are representations of the Roman soldiers Stephaton (the sponge-bearer) and Longinus (the lance-bearer) driving spears into his chest.

The plaque is one of eight such Early Medieval Irish crucifixion plaques to have survived, but was, in its closely observed detail, especially around the figure's clothing, described by the art historian Máire de Paor as the "most charming of the series". It measures 8.0 cm (3.1 in) x 7.3 cm (2.9 in), and was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Dublin, in 1935.

## Description

Christ is shown as still alive and with open eyes. His head and outstretched arms are disproportionally large compared to the rest of his body, and he is clothed in a long chasuble (a type of liturgical vestment) that reaches to his knees. He is smiling despite the nail-heads or puncture wounds in the palms of each of his hand, which have been incurred from the spears held by Stephaton and Longinus.

The panel is similar to the more well known and earlier Rinnegan (or Athlone) Crucifixion Plaque in its rendering of the figure's hair and garments.

In addition, it contains a number of resemblances to a stone cross on the Calf of Man island off the southwest coast of the Isle of Man. In that work, Christ is also depicted with a moustache, forked beard and long hair, and is also similar (and closer in date) to Christ in the Rinnegan plaque, while bearing resemblance to the cleric on the 11th century side panel of the Soiscél Molaisse. The figures are surrounded by a rectangular frame, the lower border of which Jesus, Stephaton and Longinus stand. No part of the cross is visible.

## Function

Art historians believe that it was built as an attachment to a larger metal or wooden object given that the reverse is flat and unadorned, and that it contains eight rivet-holes (only one river -or nail- remains) on the outer borders. However it is unknown as to what the precise intention was; likely such plaques adorned book covers, stone altar frontals or wooden crosses.

