47 The Holy Cross retable The retable – description In the literature published to date, a more precise date for the construction of the Holy Cross retable has not been given. Art historian Kruno Prijatelj believed that this altar, together with the Annunciation retable in the opposite chapel, and two similar but significantly smaller retables in the church of Gospa od Špilica, dates from around the 1600s.47 However, Prijatelj briefly observes that the shape of the Holy Cross retable still reflects a renaissance style, indirectly suggesting a possible, significantly earlier origin of this altarpiece when compared with the Annunciation retable in the Brautić chapel and other retables within the group. As mentioned before, the Annunciation retable can be dated to 1637. Most likely the Holy Cross retable represents an earlier phase. An indirect archival note exist concerning the supposed period of erection of this altarpiece. In the testament of Blaž Alegretto – a Lopud’s priest– written on the 15th of April 1567, he donates 30 scuda (škuda) to the construction of the Holy Cross retable.48 This date indirectly suggests the period when the altar was erected, i.e. just after 1567. The retable belongs to the type of architectural aedicula, forming a deep niche for the crucifix. Two vertical “boxes” are flanking the niche, and attached to the front, semi-columns with rich ornamental carving and corinthian capitals are the prominent vertical elements, supporting the entablatura and a lunette pediment, whereas fluted pilasters in blue and gold with gilded corinthian capitals in the level close to the wall provide the outer contour (Fig. 70). The semi-columns are decorated with carved and gilded symmetrical vegetal motifs on blue background, surrounding the central motif of a Fig. 70: Holy Cross retable seen from the side; condition after treatment
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