Relief, Querubines - 36 cm - Wood

Pair of high-relief cherubs, polychromed wood, 18th century - Spain
Material: Carved and polychromed wood
School: Castilian School
Period: 18th century
Country of origin: Spain
Minor flaws that do not interfere with the overall view of the piece
Dimensions: 36 x 27 x 16 cm.

Exquisite pair of high-relief cherubs dated to the 18th century, probably belonging to the Castilian school.
They are two rectangular high-relief pieces in carved wood, polychromed and gilded. They feature two cherubs with rosy cheeks, chestnut, curly hair, and paired golden wings. They appear to emerge from a swirl, from a mass of clouds that serves as the base of the relief. They could possibly be part of a larger ensemble such as an altarpiece or some other liturgical decorative element.
There are light signs of use due to their age and handling, which do not affect the overall view of the pieces.
On the biblical figure of cherubs and their sculptural representations
In Judeo-Christian tradition, cherubs are born as theophanic and protective beings, that is, guardians of the Garden of Eden, custodians of the Ark, and companions of the divine presence. In medieval iconography, influenced by the Byzantine theologian and mystic Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, they are identified with the second celestial choir, associated with perfect knowledge of God. Therefore in sculpture they can be represented as complex winged figures or as heads of children with wings, inserted into capitals, portals, or liturgical reliefs.
From the Renaissance their image becomes humanized and fused with the classical putto, fixing the model of the small winged face so common in altarpieces and Baroque programs. In this context their function becomes mainly decorative and devotional, acting as a symbol of glory, purity, and proximity of the sacred, as well as a visual transition element between the earthly scene and the divine realm.

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