POLYCHROME AND GILTWOOD FIGURE OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Probably Alpine, possibly Tyrolean, first half of the 19th century
Unmarked

13 1/4" H x 5 1/2" diameter

A very powerful and moving polychromed and gilded carved wood figure of St. John the Baptist holding the Lamb of God on the Book of Life, this sealed the seven seals of Revelations while he supports himself by resting on the cross in his right hand. Raised on a naturalistic mottled brown ground over an ochre polychromed rim with an infinite twisted rope motif inset into the edge over falling water-leaves in bas-relief.

Exquisitely executed and carved, the figure of Saint John is one of a slight man with ill-fitting garments that clearly are made of his own hand - the border around his neck is hairy, evoking it as being made of animal skins. His belt is twisted vines, all subtly implied and not overt. And the work of the sculptor on his face is nothing short of thought-provoking: a soft gaze of empathy as he offers a broken world the Savior.

The work is Northern European, likely Southern Germany or Austria from the first half of the 19th century. Unusually fine.

Condition: Cracquelure throughout the fleshy-tones of the polychroming accompanied by extensive losses: the cheeks / forehead. Some later rebuilding of surfaces without inpainting: feet, where the garment meets the right shoulder, where the beard/hair meet the neck. Losses to the ends of the seals on either end of the book. Rubbing to the gilding with bole showing through as well as some chipping through the gilt. Shrinkage crack around the back of the base in the brown polychrome. A very fine presentation, ready to place.

ref. 606BMZ25P