Morse with the Trinity

French 15th Century (Trinity and Angels); European 19th Century (setting)

National Gallery of Art

This round sculpture contains several ornate designs and figures. In the center is a man with pale skin, long golden hair, and a golden beard, wearing red robes over a white garment. His hands are raised by his chest, and in them he holds a large cross with a smaller man attached to it. This man has his arms stretched out to each side, and his hands and feet have been nailed to the cross. He is shirtless, with a red cut on one side of his chest, white cloth wrapped around his waist, and a leafy crown on his head. He has pale skin with some areas of gold and long gold hair. At the top of the cross seems to be the shape of a white bird, its wings stretched to either side. Surrounding these two men are angelic figures with large brown wings, white skin, and golden hair. Circling them is a ring of thorns, and beyond that is a wreath of leaves with several large pearls in it. At the edge of the sculpture is an ornate golden frame. The piece is richly colored with gold, white, red, blue, and green tones.