LTStraipsnyje aptariami Lietuvos metaliniuose antkapiniuose kryžiuose esantys lieti šventųjų globėjų atvaizdai. Išskiriama, kurie šventieji buvo populiariausi metaliniuose kryžiuose ir ieškoma atsakymo, kodėl vaizduoti būtent jie. Svarstoma, kas galėjo būti tam tikro šventojo vaizdavimo pavyzdys, aptariama jo ikonografija bažnytiniame mene. Taip pat ieškoma sąsajų su tradicine lietuvių liaudies medžio skulptūra ir XIX a. pab.-XX a. pr. lietuviškomis religinėmis giesmėmis. Plačiau analizuojami neįprastos ikonografijos, bet gausiausiai metaliniuose antkapių kryžiuose išlikę šventųjų siužetai - Dvylikos apaštalų kolegija ir Kristaus apraudojimas. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Antkapinis kryžius; Liaudies skulptūra; Metalo liejiniai; Mirusiųjų globėjai; Dvylika apaštalų; Cross; Saints; Death; Metal mouldings.
ENCrosses cast with images of the saints began to be erected in the cemeteries of Lithuania in the 2nd half of the 19th- early 20th centuries. They are common only to one region of Lithuania, which includes the ethnographical Samogitia and its neighbouring territories of the Western Highlands, Northern Lithuania and Sudovia. Most of the crosses are of a fairly simple construction and were probably made by local blacksmiths. The images of patron saints are presented as small figurines of 6 to 20cm high cast from lead, tin or aluminium. Unfortunately, only a few of them have survived - one or a small number of images of the same saint. Multi-figured compositions have been better preserved. It is assumed that the figurines were made by provincial folk masters, carvers or blacksmiths. The cast images of saints are static, quite primitive and in most cases depicted frontally. The images of saints found in metal crosses are associated with the belief that they functioned as guardians of the deceased during their journey after death. The following figurines of the saints are recorded: St. Mary Magdalene, St. Anne, St. Joseph, an Unknown Saint, St. Francis, St. Barbara and St. Peter. The most common kind of surviving crosses are those carrying the scene of the "Lamentation of Christ", in which the images of Joseph of Arimathea and St. Nicodemus are most commonly depicted. It is assumed that the popularity of the subject may have been influenced by the activity of the Fraternity of St. Joseph of Arimathea and St. Nicodemus. The latter fraternity took care of the burial of the poor Christians in Samogitia, spread the piety of the Way of the Cross as widely as possible and practiced the chanting of religious songs during commemorations of the dead.Another subject which has survived well (with 7 crosses) is "The Board of Apostles". It is interesting that the pupils of Jesus are normally depicted following the canon of the depiction of the twelve apostles of the Eastern Christians; however, here the pupils are depicted with their individual attributes which is a common feature in Western Christian art. [From the publication]