SAINT ANDREW APOSTLE. POLYCHROMED WOOD. ATTRIBUTED TO ALEJO DE VAHÍA (¿-CIRCA 1515).
Antiques - Sculpture
Reference: ZF1429
Saint Andrew. Carved and polychromed wood. Attributed to DE VAHÍA, Alejo (?-circa 1515). This figurative sculpture, carved and polychromed in wood with traces of gilding still visible, depicts a standing male figure dressed in a tunic and cloak. The figure is missing its hands and faces forward, with a full beard and wavy hair. As is common in some works designed for altarpieces, etc., the back is unfinished, revealing a metal bracket for mounting the piece on a wall. To one side of the figure are the remains of a saltire cross, known as the Cross of Burgundy or St. Andrew's Cross, as the Apostle Andrew, considered the first disciple of Jesus and older brother of Peter, was crucified on this cross. The Acts of Andrew recounts that Aegeas (or Aegeates), proconsul of Patras, ordered Andrew's execution upon learning that he had converted his wife. Alejo de Vahía (? - circa 1515) was a Gothic sculptor of probable Nordic origin, as his artistic training appears to have originated in the Lower Rhine region. He is known to have been active in Spain (the Becerril de Campos area, supplying the Palencia and Valladolid regions, etc.) during an undetermined period between 1475 and 1515 (it is assumed he died in 1515 or earlier), as he did not sign his works and we only have one piece of documentary evidence about him to date. A clear advantage is his highly distinctive and defined personal style, which links him to works such as the choir stalls of Oviedo Cathedral, the tombs of the Núñez de la Serna family in the Church of Santiago in Valladolid, and others. Compare the present carving with that of an Apostle (perhaps Saint Philip) dated around 1500 from the Museum of Sacred Art of Becerril de Campos, with that of Saint Onuphrius from the end of the 16th century from the National Sculpture Museum of Valladolid, or the Eternal Father or Pare Etern from the school of Alejo de Vahía from around 1505-1515 from the parish church of Vega de Ruiponce in Valladolid.
· Size: 21x21x65 cms.
10.000 €
