FRIEDRICH, Caspar David(b. 1774, Greifswald, d. 1840, Dresden)
Cross in the Mountains (Tetschen Altar) 1808
Oil on canvas, 115 x 110 cm
Gemäldegalerie, Dresden
The artist designed the frame himself - a Gothic arch with the eye of God and the wheat and vine of the Eucharist.
The frame was executed by the sculptor, Gottlieb Christian Kühn
The theme: Nature and Religion - very much within the Romantic tradition.
On many large hills and mountains in Italy it was the tradition and, to an extent still is, for crucifixes to be erected on the tops of hills where they can be seen far and wide.
I understand that it was the tradition in other Catholic European countries too.
This is certainly true for the German speaking countries: this is the Gipfelkreuz ("summit Cross") of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain of Germany: http://www1.ndr.de/media/zugspitze2_v-gallery.jpg
ReplyDeleteHere is the one on the Kofel, also in Germany:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/thumb/2/21/Kofel_Gipfelkreuz.jpg/526px-Kofel_Gipfelkreuz.jpg
This is the one of the Großglockner (the highest mountain of Austria): http://www1.ndr.de/media/zugspitze2_v-gallery.jpg