Rare Gilt Bronze Kiss Of Peace – Calvary – Aragon, Circa 1570-1590

Rare Gilt Bronze Kiss of Peace – Calvary – Aragon, circa 1570-1590.

A cast, chased, and gilt bronze Kiss of Peace, mounted on an engraved and pitted copper plate, attributed to Aragonese production of the late 16th century.

Description:

The composition forms a veritable small architectural altarpiece in a single piece, centered on a Calvary scene in relief: Christ on the cross dominates a stylized mound, framed by the figures of the Virgin Mary and Saint John.
The whole is set within a semicircular arch, resting on a molded base and flanked by pilasters decorated with Ionic capitals.
The triangular pediment features a winged angel's head at its center, while three putti in the round enliven the extremities and the top, reinforcing the sculptural dimension of the piece.
The background consists of a copper plate engraved with a symmetrical geometric design on a bright pitted surface, visible through the wide central window.
The reverse features a simple engraved frame centered on an eight-petaled flower.
The rear handle, made of reattached bronze, has an elegant profile; it terminates in a ram's head at the top and a stylized hoof at the bottom—a detail typical of Renaissance decorative vocabulary.

The deliberate rigidity of the sacred figures and the enduring iconography of the Calvary theme are in keeping with liturgical tradition, while the decorative treatment of the engraved plaque provides a key clue for dating it to the last third of the 16th century.

Dimensions: Height: 13.5 cm x Width: 8.6 cm - Weight: 253 g.

Condition:

Very good condition. No hallmarks noted.
The original gilding is well preserved, with wear consistent with age and liturgical use.
A rare piece illustrating the quality of small Aragonese religious bronze work from the Renaissance, intended for the rite of the kiss of peace.

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