SAINT. POLYCHROMED WOOD. SPANISH SCHOOL, 17TH CENTURY.
Antiques - Sculpture
Reference: ZF1561
Saint. Carved and polychromed wood. Spanish school, 17th century. It has faults. A flat relief carved from polychrome, gilded, and painted wood, depicting a young male figure standing on a platform resembling the ground, holding a staff with a curved handle. Note the figure's inclined posture, which suggests a representation of Saint Christopher (who is often depicted in this position carrying the Christ Child). We consider it unlikely that this is Saint Joseph, as he is not wearing a tunic or cloak and the flowers on the staff are missing. It is also unusual to see Saint James the Apostle represented in this carving (his hat and scallop shell are also absent). Stylistically, it shows influences from the 17th-century Castilian school (treatment, anatomy, etc.), with a number of peculiarities more reminiscent of works from northern Spain. The flatness of the carving or relief suggests it was intended for a small altarpiece or a private chapel altar. Saint Christopher of Lycia is a martyr who was executed in Roman times (3rd or 4th century). According to tradition, he was a Canaanite who stood about 2.30 meters tall and had a fearsome face. The saint's most famous moment was when he carried a child across a river, an infant who turned out to be Jesus. The rich iconography of the saint began in the 10th century and spread from the eastern Mediterranean and the Coptic world to the West, continuing to the present day despite two major attempts to suppress his official cult in the 16th and 20th centuries. Because of the belief that praying to him could save one from sudden death, his image was frequently found in churches, cathedrals, and other religious buildings., detectedSourceLanguage: es
· Size: 22x4x53 cms.
1.800 €
