A deeply expressive 19th-century French devotional wall plaque depicting the 12ᵗʰ Station of the Cross — Jésus meurt sur la croix (“Jesus dies on the cross”). The intricate bas-relief scene is signed A. Pilla, a noted French maker of ecclesiastical plaster sculpture active in the late 1800s.
The finely cast relief portrays the Crucifixion with remarkable emotion and detail, protected under a convex glass dome and framed in an ebonized oval wood frame with gilded trim. At the top rests a cast-brass cross and “Station” cartouche, while the lower brass ribbon bears the French inscription “Jésus meurt sur la croix.”
These plaques were typically created for chapels, convents, and private devotional spaces during France’s religious revival period (circa 1870–1900).
Maker: A. Pilla (France)
Era: Late 19th century (c. 1880)
Origin: France
Materials: Plaster, convex glass, wood, and brass mounts
Dimensions: Approx. 9-3/4”h x 8”w
Condition: Very good antique condition; light wear and natural patina to frame and gilding consistent with age