Sigurd Cross Slab

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Description: This drawing is by Philip Moore Callow Kermode, the first curator of the Manx Museum. He drew life-size pictures of all of the known stone crosses in the early 1900s creating an important, and beautiful, record of these internationally significant monuments.

Our hero Sigurd raises his sword to kill Fafnir the dragon. Dying, Fafnir twists and turns in the centre of the picture. Sigurd, on the left, roasts the dragon’s heart over flames. Watched by his faithful horse Grani, Sigurd burns his fingers and raises his hand to his mouth to cool them. He is then able to understand the language of the birds and they warn of a plot to kill him.

The cross, from Andreas, dates to between AD 900 and 1000 and shows scenes from a Scandinavian saga, skilfully combined with Christian symbolism. The scenes of Sigurd are carved on and around a classic interlace pattern forming a cross.

Measurements: artwork: 101 cm x 50 cm

Object name: drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/121Ai

Subject tags : #MM100ARTOFPEOPLE

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