18th-Century French Jansenist-Influenced Brass Crucifix

A handsome French brass standing crucifix, likely dating from the 18th century, with a simple circular base, shell-form terminals, and an INRI plaque above the finely modeled figure of Christ. The noticeably raised, relatively narrow position of Christ’s arms suggests Jansenist influence, an iconographic treatment associated with the austere Catholic reform movement that became particularly influential in 17th- and 18th-century France. French museum collections similarly describe Jansenist figures of Christ by their narrowly raised arms, traditionally linked to the movement’s emphasis on divine grace and the restricted path to salvation. Walter Wells began collecting crucifixes over many years, finding them in Paris shops and Provençal brocantes. Mostly French and dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, they fascinated him for their variations in form, materials, and detail, particularly given his strict Protestant upbringing, where religious imagery was largely absent. Over time, Walter came to see each crucifix not simply as an object, but as an individual expression of sacrifice, grace, forgiveness, and acceptance. Several examples from his collection are available for separate purchase.