The shoulders of the crucifix bear inscriptions which establish that the original cross was embellished by order of Irene Palaeologa, niece of the Emperor John VII Palaeologus, and that she presented it to her confessor Gregory, who had in 1446 become Patriarch of Constantinople and took it to Italy.
On his death in 1459 Gregory left it to his friend, Cardinal Bessarion.

The Scuola had the following inscription affixed to the back of the reliquary to record the dedication:
BESSARIO EPISCOPUS SABIN. | CARDINALIS NICAENUS PATRIARCHA | CONSTANTINOPOLITANUS ! BEATAE VIRGINI | MARIA SCHOLAE CARITATIS | VENETIIS

18th century engraving showing the two splinters of the Cross in the upper compartments and two shreds of sackcloth from the Tunic in the lower compartments.

18th century engraving of Cordegliaghi's portrait, showing Bessarion's stemma as a cardinal in the lower part of the frame.

The cardinal's stemma appears in the lower part of the frame.

Painted by Berruguette to a design by Justus of Ghent. The work formed part of a series of famous men that Justus executed for Federico da Montefeltro's studiolo in his new palace in Gubbio (qv. St. Augustine).

Guillaume Fichet of Paris offers a copy of his book to Bessarion. Bessarion was instrumental in the establishment of printing in Rome.