La Croce di Casamari. Nuove osservazioni su un capolavoro dell’oreficeria del Duecento

The Casamari Cross: New observations on a masterpiece of 13th century goldsmithing · The Croce Santa is a masterpiece of medieval goldsmithing coming from the Cistercian abbey of Casamari (Lazio). It was moved in the 16th century to the treasury of the cathedral of Veroli and it still represents an open problem for the history of precious arts in the 13th century. First of all, because of its chronology, settled around the mid-13th century despite the date of 1291 engraved on the knot that once completed it. No less problematic is its patronage, with hypotheses ranging from Frederick II to the Abbot of Casamari Giovanni Bos. Equally elusive is its geographical location, fluctuating between Southern Italy and Northern Europe. Other studies have already evoked the connection with the Rheno-Mosan area for its stylistic features. This paper aims to return to the Cross of Casamari by considering its relations with the goldsmith production of Limoges, in the light of the artistic circulation in Rome in the 13th century.