Large Polychrome Wooden Crucifix – Naples, 18th Century

An important carved and polychrome wooden crucifix, attributed to 18th-century Neapolitan craftsmanship. The Christ figure, of considerable size, features highly expressive anatomical modeling, with a slender, elongated body, a bowed head, and a suffering face, rendered in the devotional style of the High Baroque period.

The sculpture retains a refined polychrome finish, characterized by a delicate rendering of the flesh tones and a meticulous depiction of the wounds of the Passion. The loincloth, with its elegant folds, contributes to the figure’s compositional balance, while the crown of thorns made of natural branches accentuates the work’s powerful emotional impact.

Christ is mounted on a modern wooden cross, to which a metal cartouche from an earlier location has been affixed, bearing witness to the work’s conservation history.

Of particular note are the dimensions of the sculpted body alone, which suggest that this piece was most likely intended for an ecclesiastical or confraternity setting.

Period: 18th century

Provenance: Naples

Material: Carved and polychromed wood

Dimensions: Total height 120 cm; Christ 75 × 60 cm (arm span)