Castilian peace holder, 1590-1620

Castilian cloth holder, 1590-1620.
"Virgin and Child.
Cast and embossed metal.
Published in "Silver and bronzes in the Bordonaro collection", Volume II, by Cesar Gonzalez Zamora. ref. 24.20, file no. 179.
It presents a break in the back grip.
Measurements: 16,5 x 10,5 x 6 cm.

Castilian portapaz from the end of the 16th century and beginning of the 17th century, belonging to the late Renaissance liturgical goldsmithery, with formal elements that already anticipate the proto-baroque language. The piece has a rectangular structure topped by a curved pediment decorated with vegetal motifs and scrolls, conceived as a small portable altarpiece for ceremonial use.

The central field depicts an enthroned Virgin and Child, a Marian iconography with deep devotional roots. The Virgin appears seated, holding the Child in a close and intimate attitude, while two holding angels flank the scene from above, unfolding draperies that reinforce the theatricality of the whole and underline the sacred character of the image.

The treatment of the figures, with marked volumes and wide folds, responds to a more naturalistic language than that of the preceding Renaissance models, with a greater emphasis on the corporeality and expressiveness of the gestures. The work in cast and later embossed metal allows for a rich articulation of reliefs, visible both in the clothing and in the architectural and ornamental elements.

From the iconographic point of view, the composition refers to the Virgin of Mercy or Virgin enthroned, a typology widely spread in the Castilian sphere, intended to reinforce Marian devotion in the liturgical context. The compact format and the depth of the relief show its functionality as a kissing object within the ceremony of peace.

The piece has a solid bibliographical reference, having been published in the Bordonaro collection, which reinforces its historical and collector interest. As a whole, it is a piece of remarkable quality and presence, representative of the formal evolution of Castilian sacred goldsmithing in the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque.