Description
Note : A similar sculpture depicting Christ is exhibited at the Museum Frederic Mares of Barcelona.
Carbone 14 testing conducted.
Certificate of Analysis from the Laboratoire CIRAM
16, avenue Pey-Berland 33607 Pessac cedex
Study of the polychromy by Juliette Lévy, Curator of Sculptures at the Louvre.
This Christ, originally part of a Descent from the Cross, is an extraordinarily fine example of romanesque polychrome wood sculpture. The line of the body is gracefully curved, the head inclined forward and to the right and the abundant hair is spread out in long locks over his shoulder.
A great number of details can be noticed, as the sharp edged nose and the fine moustache. The face is serene and full of compassion, the eyes half closed, which keep a certain suavity in their expressivity.
The long perizonium in stylized folds of drapery, is twisted around the belt, and stabilized by a fold in the middle, ending above the knees. The blue material is adorned by motifs of gold squares, known from the XIIth century on.
The rest of the body is unveiled, the chest cage is protuberant, the ribbs underlined and jutting out.
The legs are elegant and the feet superposed upon each other.
The hollowed out back is closed by a polychromous panel, nailed down and ornate by motifs of stylized vegetation.
A genuinely forceful power results from the sculpture. The massive and strong shape of the Christ, testify a dating of the masterpiece at the beginning of 14th century.