Polychrome And Gilded Wooden Christ Figure – Swabia, Southern Germany – 16th Century

Polychrome and gilded wooden Christ figure – Swabia, Southern Germany – circa 1520–1540

Important carved, polychrome, and gilded wooden Christ on the Cross, from Southern Germany, likely Swabia, first half of the 16th century, circa 1520–1540.

An exceptional museum piece!

Description

This high-quality sculpture belongs to the tradition of Germanic Late Gothic art, marking the transition to the Renaissance.
Christ has a particularly slender silhouette, with his arms spread wide, his legs crossed, and his head bowed in an expression of restrained pain.

The finely carved face, the long hair rendered in deep, distinct strands, the crown of thorns, and the pronounced anatomical modeling are evidence of the work of a skilled workshop.
The remarkable gilded perizonium, animated by powerful, deeply carved folds, is one of the work’s most characteristic features and links it to the sculptural tradition of Swabia, a major center of woodcarving in southern Germany in the early 16th century.

The work retains a significant amount of its original polychromy and gilding, with red highlights depicting the wounds of the Passion.

The reverse side retains traces of the woodworking process as well as several old drill holes and fastening mechanisms, associated in particular with its original display on a cross that no longer exists.

This sculpture retains a strong presence, fine craftsmanship, and great aesthetic authenticity.

Origin: Southern Germany, likely Swabia
Period: first half of the 16th century, circa 1520–1540
Material: carved, polychromed, and gilded wood
Height: 70 cm

Condition

In very good condition considering the work’s age, with the original polychromy and gilding largely preserved; some wear and losses consistent with its age, as well as the absence of a phalanx on the index finger of the left hand.

A rare and expressive German religious sculpture from the early 16th century, remarkable for its size, the quality of its carving, and the preservation of a significant amount of original polychromy and gilding.

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