Spanish school; second third of the XVI century.

Spanish school; second third of the XVI century.
"Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Bartholomew".
Carved and polychrome wood.
Presents restorations.
Measurements: 81 x 112 x 6 cm.
This is a relief of great artistic and devotional value, made of carved and polychrome wood, dated in the second third of the sixteenth century and attributed to the Spanish school, probably within the Castilian area, where many workshops of sacred imagery flourished during the late Renaissance.
The piece, of rectangular format, presents two figures symmetrically arranged on the sides of the composition that is divided into two spaces, thus creating a visual dialogue that highlights both their individuality and their complementarity. On the left, Saint John the Evangelist is represented, identified by his idealized youth, his serene face and the unmistakable attribute of the cup, symbol of his frustrated martyrdom according to the golden legend. At the opposite extreme is Saint Bartholomew.
Both figures are treated with a high degree of detail, especially visible in the faces, hair and folds of the clothes, which show a clear influence of the Italian Renaissance, but reinterpreted through the Hispanic expressive prism. The anatomical treatment, although idealized, shows a deep knowledge of the human body and an interest in the naturalness of the pose, inherited from Renaissance humanism. However, the expressiveness of the faces and the spiritual intensity already refer to the mannerist sensibility that began to emerge in the Hispanic religious art of the mid-sixteenth century.
The polychromy enriches the sculpture with vivid and golden tones that highlight the volumes and give the work a symbolic and ceremonial dimension. The gilding applied on the stews and details of the mantles refers to the taste for lavishness that characterized liturgical art in this period, designed to impress the viewer and emphasize the sacred character of the figures.
The second third of the 16th century was a time of transition and synthesis in Spanish art. While the languages of the Renaissance were taking hold, the emotional and spiritual tension that would lead to the Baroque was already beginning to insinuate itself. In this context, religious sculpture in relief played a fundamental role, both in altarpieces and in devotional ensembles, by allowing a clear visual narrative, of immediate impact, and a direct connection with the viewer.
The choice of Saint John and Saint Bartholomew is not accidental. Both apostles represent distinct models of fidelity and sacrifice: John as a witness of love and revelation, Bartholomew as an emblem of physical martyrdom and spiritual fortitude. Their joint presence in the relief suggests a theological discourse that unites contemplation and action, revealed word and bodily witness.