The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 28, 2024

Paschal Candlestick

Paschal Candlestick

c. 1525–1550
Overall: 123.2 x 41 x 44 cm (48 1/2 x 16 1/8 x 17 5/16 in.)

Description

In Roman Catholic practice, a large candlestick holds the Paschal Candle, blessed and lit for the first time on Easter eve, then used on significant occasions throughout the year. Despite its religious function, the decorations here are entirely secular-ranging from panthers and bound satyrs to the heads of raptors and goats. These elements derive from ancient Roman sculpture and were especially popular among intellectuals in northern Italy, who were actively exploring connections among pagan traditions, ancient philosophy, and Christianity.
  • Palazzo of the Spada-Varaldi (Bologna, Italy)
    Prince Spada (Rome, Italy)
    Art market (Amsterdam, Netherlands
    French and Co. (New York, New York), sold to John L. Severance.
    John L. Severance, upon his death, held in trust by the estate.
    Estate of John L. Severance, by bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1942.
  • Catalogue of the John L. Severance Collection: Bequest of John L. Severance, 1936. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1942. Reproduced: p. [28], Plate XII, cat. no. 22; Mention: p. 31, cat. no. 22 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 236 archive.org
  • Exhibition of the John L. Severance Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (November 12, 1942-March 14, 1943).
  • {{cite web|title=Paschal Candlestick|url=false|author=|year=c. 1525–1550|access-date=28 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1942.802