Crucifix - Wood - 1750-1800

Christ Baroque
Christ Crucified from Mallorca in carved wood - Spanish School - 18th century Description: Magnificent altar crucifix with the figure of Christ dead on the cross (Christus patiens), characteristic of the religious and devotional imagery of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The main carving of the torso and face shows the hallmarks of the 18th-century Baroque school, highlighting the great expressiveness of the face with the mouth slightly open (with detail of the upper teeth carved), the bifid beard and the wavy strands of hair worked with a gouge. It preserves honest remnants of its original polychromy, with visible threads of blood on the forehead and temples. The Purity cloth (perizonium) presents a thick drapery with a clearly defined side knot. The ebony wood cross and its stepped base are of later fabrication (20th century), made for the display of the old carving. Condition: General state typical of its high-age with natural wear, losses of the coat of stucco and polychromy, and biological structural cracks in the wood due to the passage of time (notably an old vertical crack on the torso). It shows a historically recognizable restoration on its left arm (right as viewed from the front), which was replaced and integrated about 50 years ago. The figure is firmly anchored to the cross framework with modern metal screw fasteners (star and flat), installed during recent consolidation work. Hands and feet complete.

dimensions Christ 41 cm x 40 cm x 7 cm
dimensions cross 86 cm x 50 cm x 3 cm
the left arm was restored to match the original about 50 years ago