# Crossing vault [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [CIMABUE]() - Date: 1251-1300 - Technique: Fresco ## Commentary The four vault cells, of which the eastern one was destroyed by the earthquake, contain depictions of the evangelists, as was common in the crossing vaults of medieval churches. Borders with double vines, which grow out of vases borne by angels and wrap around heads of putti at regular intervals, line the individual picture fields. The evangelists: St Luke \(west vault cell\), St John \(north cell\), St Matthew \(east cell\) and St Mark \(south cell\). Either writing or absorbed in scripture, the evangelists occupy one half of each triangular field; a table writing desk is in the middle; and a view of a city is in the other half. In the pinnacle of each vault cell is a patch of cloud from which an angel descends and, as a visual sign of divine inspiration, touches the ear of the evangelist. The cities depicted represent, or once represented, the parts of the world to which each evangelist directed his message: YTALIA, ACCHAIA, ASIA, IUDEA. ## Related artworks - [Apocalyptical Christ \(detail\)]() - [Apocalyptical Christ \(detail\)]() - [Christ Enthroned between the Virgin and St John the Evangelist \(detail\)]() - [Crossing vault \(detail of the east cell\)]() - [Crossing vault \(detail of the east cell\)]() - [Crossing vault \(detail of the north cell\)]() - [Crossing vault \(detail of the south cell\)]() - [Crossing vault \(detail of the west cell\)]() - [Crossing vault \(detail of the west cell\)]() - [Crossing vault \(detail\)]() - [Crossing vault \(detail\)]() - [Crucifix \(detail\)]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()