Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Title: Discovery and Proof of the True Cross
  • Creator: Piero della Francesca, painter
  • Description: On the left the Jewish scholar Judas unearths the crosses of Christ and the two thieves outside the walls of Jerusalem. On the right St. Helena and her retinue watch Judas resurrect a dead youth with the Cross, thus proving its legitimacy. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, was credited with finding and rescuing the Cross of Christ.
  • Source: Wikimedia Commons
  • Rights: Public domain
  • Subject (See Also): Crosses and Crucifixes Helena, Saint Jews Miracles Relics
  • Geographic Area: Italy
  • Century: 15
  • Date: Circa 1460
  • Related Work:
  • Current Location: Arezzo, San Francesco, Cappella Maggiore
  • Original Location: Arezzo, San Francesco, Cappella Maggiore
  • Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Frescoes (paintings)
  • Donor: Laymen; Bicci family
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): 356 cm/747 cm/
  • Inscription:
  • Related Resources: