Pair Of Carved Wooden Reliquary Busts Of Bishops, End Of 18th Century

- Pair of reliquary busts of bishops in carved oak dating from the end of 18th century. Carved in half-round and depicted as a bust, these portraits have an identical base. The latter, trapezoidal in shape, is openwork in its center with a trefoil holding a glass. It is carved with a frieze of leaves adorning its base, acanthus leaves and friezes of pearls following its curved volute lines, a flower surmounting the trefoil and finally a lambrequin. The busts themselves differ, each of them representing a bishop with their singularities.

- One of them has a beard and wavy locks cover his ears. The undulations of his hair, like moving lines, bring realism to this portrait. Just like his hollow cheeks and the marked lines on his forehead which reveal his advanced age. His miter, whose two fanons rest on the back, has a symmetrical sculpted decoration; pearl friezes, a leafy base. The work of the sculpted ornaments on his liturgical vestments also contributes to the effect of realism and adds to his presence. The bishop is adorned with a pleated alb on which rests a cross and a camail adorned with a wide braid decorated with stylized plant scrolls and closed on the front by a flower-shaped clasp. The other bust represents a bishop of a seemingly younger age. On his miter, a decoration with plant motifs is displayed and the two pennants are also present on the back. He is dressed in a mozette buttoned on the chest and carries a cross that a movement seems to have just turned over. A detail that adds to the realism of the sculpture.

- The sculptor has succeeded in conveying the natural authority and presence that these high ecclesiastical figures must have had. Furthermore, although anonymous, the quality of the sculpture makes these bishops expressive and gives them a certain presence.

- Good state of conservation, to be noted: holes left by wood-eating insects, missing parts (see photos)

- Dimensions: Height: 83 cm, Width: 44 cm, Depth: 17 cm

- Dimensions for the other: Height: 83 cm, Width: 44 cm, Depth: 15 cm