Large Statue Of The Risen Christ, Very Early 18th Century

This elegant sculpture depicts Christ triumphant on the day after the Resurrection. Standing on a globe symbolizing his victory over the world and over death, he adopts a slight sway of the hips that brings the figure to life, while a flowing golden cloak, rendered in broad, swirling folds, envelops the body in a movement of remarkable vigor. This pursuit of movement and theatrical effect is fully in keeping with the Baroque aesthetic. The face, with its delicately modeled features, expresses a serene solemnity. His eyes raised toward the sky, his abundant hair with deeply defined strands, and his finely rendered beard all attest to the sculptor’s skill. The original polychrome paint, with its nuanced skin tones, remains largely intact and harmonizes beautifully with the remnants of the gold leaf that adorn the cloak and the base. The sculpture is carved from a light wood, likely linden or poplar, using traditional workshop techniques. The arms, now missing, were originally attached and were intended to hold the banner of the Resurrection, a common iconographic attribute of the victorious Christ. The underside of the base retains its original mounting as well as traces of an early fastening, suggesting that it was once displayed as part of an altarpiece or a liturgical ensemble.Through the quality of its modeling, the vigor of its drapery, and the sensitivity of its expression, this work beautifully exemplifies 18th-century religious sculpture, in which spirituality is expressed through a visual language imbued with movement and emotion.Condition: wear and minor imperfections consistent with its age; historic losses on both arms; standard restorations; original polychromy and gilding preserved.
France or Southern Europe, 18th centuryHeight: 60 cm