Joseph Of Arimathea And Nicodemus Pair Of Terracotta Sculptures

Sculptor active in Venice between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus,
pair of sculptures modelled in terracotta
h cm 77,5
Modeled with meticulous detail and meticulous attention to detail, the two figures are portrayed standing and dressed in short robes. Joseph of Arimathea, who obtained Pilate's permission to remove Jesus' body from the cross, holds the symbol of the nails in his hand, a long, wavy beard, a sash cinched at his waist, and loose trousers held in place by ankle ties. His frowning gaze is directed downward. Visible muscles and veins accentuate the power of his arms. Nicodemus, who with a hammer and tongs removes the nail from the deceased Christ's left hand, wears a short, curly beard. His face is stern, and a sash is worn diagonally across his chest. Both figures stand on rocky ground. The faces of the two figures, framed by the flowing beard that blends with the drapery of their robes, perfectly exemplify the artist's quest for introspection. The two sculptures were probably executed in Venice between the last quarter of the 16th century and the first two decades of the 17th century. They can be traced back to the circle of Danese Cattaneo and Francesco Segala, both stylistically similar to Alessandro Vittoria, who, like their master, were distinguished by their outstanding portraiture skills and profound psychological exploration of their subject.