Monk holding a Cross
| Support Type: | Wood Panel |
| Paint Type: | Tempera |
| Current Location: | Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Madrid |
"Monk holding a Cross" carries an emotional depth presented in the facial and bodily expressions of the monk. The way the cross is held with the monk gazing into the infinite is a point to be noted. The monk's figure dominates the painting, both physically and psychologically. It offers a profound sense of something limitless and boundless, as the monk looks upwards, perhaps to the sky. His facial expression is possibly indicating awe and reverence towards something magnificent, beyond human comprehension, very often referred to as a higher power. The painting leaves the viewers wondering what it is that monk appears to be so intensely looking at. The speciality of this painting is reflected in Dominico Veneziano's skill of creating a picture of a monk with an all-consuming gaze, the depth of which brings a sense of sensibility to the artwork. To immerse into this artwork is to feel a deep sense of emotion; unclear as to what that emotion might be but its depth takes us places and keeps us wondering about the mysteries of the world, just as what the monk is lost looking at remains a mystery to all of us.