Spanish school of the XVI century.

Spanish school of the XVI century.
"Saint John the Baptist.
Polychrome carving.
Presents faults and loss of polychrome.
Measurements: 130 x 55 x 65 cm (sculpture); 21 x 52 x 45 cm (base).

Renaissance sculpture and Spanish school representing St. John the Baptist. The image of the saint is distinguished by the characteristic gesture of his right hand, raised in the act of pouring water on the faithful as a sign of baptism. His youthful, bearded face, with serene features, reinforces his iconographic identity, as does the sheepskin covering him, symbol of his austere life in the desert. In his left hand, he originally held a staff, a frequent attribute in his representation. His large almond-shaped eyes, sculpted with precision, give the figure a deep and contemplative expression, reflecting his role as prophet and herald of Christ. The treatment of the drapery is particularly remarkable: it is folded and superimposed with a detailed naturalistic language, creating a play of light and shadow that accentuates the modeling of the body. As is characteristic of the Renaissance, the sculpture conveys a restrained expression and an introspective withdrawal, where balance and restraint predominate over dramatic exaltation.