Rare And Important Carved And Polychromed Wooden Religious Sculpture

A rare and significant carved and polychromed wooden religious sculpture depicting Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (1568–1591)—a young Italian Jesuit canonized in 1726 and revered as the patron saint of youth and students. Created during the 19th century, this statue is distinguished by the quality of its craftsmanship and an expression imbued with gentleness. The finely modeled face features realistic glass eyes, lending an intensity and lifelike quality characteristic of religious sculptures intended for veneration. The saint is depicted standing, dressed in a white cassock and a cardinal-red mozzetta, following a traditional iconographic style widely disseminated in Jesuit colleges and chapels during the 19th century. The carefully carved hands were originally designed to hold an attribute that is now missing—likely a crucifix, a lily, or a book. The sculpture retains its original base, featuring green and brown faux-marble decoration, as well as its early polychromy in understated, harmonious tones. The piece is presented in its original condition, bearing the marks of its history: a significant shrinkage crack running from the chest down to the base.