19th-20th century Spanish school

19th-20th century Spanish school .
"St. Christopher with Child".
Carved and polychrome wood.
Presents wear, flaws in the wood and lacking in the polychrome.
Measurements: 67 x 30 x 21 cm.

This carving of devotional character represents St. Christopher with the Child. Cristobal is a fabulous saint, whose legend does not go back beyond the XI century, originated by the development of his name, Cristoforo, which in Greek means "the one who carries Christ". Originally, this expression was understood in a spiritual sense, as the one who carries Christ in his heart. Later it was taken in a material sense. According to the tradition popularized during the 13th century by the Golden Legend, the man who carried Christ on his shoulders could only be a giant. Proud of his strength, he only agreed to serve the most powerful king in the universe. He placed himself in the service of a monarch, but realizing that the latter was afraid of the devil, he left him to serve Satan. Disappointed again that the sight of a cross at a crossroads was enough to defeat the devil, he pledged himself to serve Christ, and to please him he devoted himself to helping travelers and pilgrims across a dangerous river. One evening he heard himself called by a child, who asked him to carry him on his shoulders; but his burden grew heavier and heavier. So much so, that the giant reached the opposite bank with difficulty. Then the child made himself known as Christ. To prove it to him, he asked Christopher to plant his staff in the ground, which immediately became a palm tree laden with fruit.