Crucifix, 18th century, 12 5/16 × 5 11/16 × 1 in. ( × × cm), Wood, brass, iron, Democratic Republic of Congo, 18th century, The Kingdom of Kongo, in central Africa, officially became Christian in the late 1400s, after the baptism of its king. This opened the door to Catholic missionaries, and the Christian ideas and icons that began circulating through the kingdom soon found their way into Kongo art and religious thought. The crucifix was the foremost of these icons, a potent symbol of the new faith that happened to mirror an indigenous cosmogram, a cross-like symbol

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Size: 3488px × 5971px
Location:
Photo credit: © Penta Springs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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