Christ In Boxwood - Flanders, Late 17th Century

This finely carved boxwood sculpture depicts the Crucified Christ. His arms stretch wide toward the heavens, his head tilts gently to the right shoulder, and his features, marked by both pain and resignation, powerfully express the human dimension of divine sacrifice.

The elongated, anatomically detailed body reveals a keen observation of the living model: the contracted torso, prominent ribs, and taut muscles convey the reality of suffering, while the smooth modeling and warm polish of the boxwood lend the figure a graceful harmony of line and form.

The side-knotted perizonium, delicately folded, is rendered with remarkable virtuosity. The quality of the carving and the nobility of the chosen wood reveal the hand of a master sculptor, likely active in Flanders at the end of the seventeenth century.