Crucifixion

Giovanni Teutonico
carved and painted wood
1478

As evidenced by various payments made to him, the sculptor Giovanni Teutonico was responsible for “il crocifisso bello” (beautiful crucifix) that was originally placed in the middle of the church. His commission for this work was due to the attention of the abbot Gaspare Giordani from Pavia. This sculptor from the North specialized in wooden crucifixes with particularly expressive features, which often included theatrical elements, such as moveable arms, a protruding tongue and a small bag in the rib cage for blood that ran.

Giovanni Teutonico was active in Umbria for a long time, and established a large and well-organized workshop. He is known to have been active in Terni, from 1482, and in Norcia in 1484. His work is found in other cities in Umbria, such as Assisi, Foligno, Spello, Bevagna, Trevi, and Narni, as well as surrounding regions, such as the Marches, Lazio, and Abruzzo.