Christ. Italy, 16th century

Christ. Italy, 16th century.
Carved and polychrome wood.
Mounted on metal base.
Measurements: 32 cm (height).

The anatomy of this Renaissance Christ stands out for its detailed and careful technique. It represents the Savior on the cross, already dead, with closed eyes and half-open lips. The tilted head draws a soft curvature with respect to the legs bent to the opposite side, so that the body is harmonious in anatomy and proportions, something that shows the advance with respect to the traditional Gothic. It has a restrained dramatism in the treatment of the traces of suffering, especially in the chest with marked ribs. The cloth of purity is gathered to one side, favoring a play of naturalistic drapery.

Crucifixions and crucifixes have appeared in the history of art and popular culture since before the era of the pagan Roman Empire. The crucifixion of Jesus has been depicted in religious art since the 4th century. It is one of the most recurrent themes in Christian art and the one with the most obvious iconography. Although Christ is sometimes depicted clothed, it is usual to represent his naked body, albeit with the genitals covered with a purity cloth (perizonium); full nudes are very rare, but prominent (Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Cellini). The conventions of representation of the different attitudes of the crucified Christ are designated by the Latin expressions Christus triumphans ("triumphant" -not to be confused with the Maiestas Domini or the Pantocrator-), Christus patiens ("resigned" -not to be confused with the Christ of patience-) and Christus dolens ("suffering" -not to be confused with the Vir dolorum-). The triumphans is represented alive, with open eyes and erect body; the patiens is represented dead, with the will totally emptied (kenosis), the head inclined, the face with serene expression, the eyes closed and the body arched, showing the five wounds; the dolens is represented in a similar way to the patiens, but with a gesture of pain, particularly in the mouth (curved).