Pair of altarpiece elements; Spain, XVIII century.

Pair of altarpiece elements; Spain, XVIII century.
Carved, gilded and polychrome wood.
Measurements: 75 x 47 x 11 cm (x2).
Pair of ornamental elements belonging to a Spanish altarpiece from the 18th century, executed in carved, gilded and polychrome wood. These pieces, conceived as motifs of architectural decoration within a larger ensemble, respond to the formal language of the late baroque, characterized by its dynamism, theatricality and material richness.
Both panels exhibit an elaborate work of deep relief carving, in which stylized vegetal motifs are displayed in the form of scrolls and acanthiform leaves that intertwine in compositions of great spiral movement. The surface has been richly gilded in fine gold, with polychrome applications in shades of vermilion red and greenish blue, which retain traces of its original decoration based on dotted geometric patterns, probably executed using the technique of estofado, typical of religious polychrome sculpture.
The gilding and chromatic accents not only reinforce the sumptuous character of these pieces, but also fulfill a symbolic function, underlining the sacredness of the ensemble to which they belonged. The curvilinear and asymmetrical forms, combined with the richness of the material, generate a visual effect of constant fluidity, typical of the baroque language, conceived to impress and move the spectator within the devotional context.
Originally integrated into a main or side altarpiece, these elements fulfilled a structural ornamental function, probably as part of an entablature, a bench, a niche or an aisle. Their design not only obeyed aesthetic principles, but also contributed to the visual hierarchy of the altarpiece, guiding the gaze towards the titular images or the tabernacle, in an integral composition designed for worship.