European school, 17th century

European School, XVII century
"Saint John the Baptist".
Polychrome wood carving
In good condition. With slight losses in the polychrome according to its age.
Measurements: 68 x 27 x 19 cm.

Representation of St. John the Baptist, a key figure of Christianity, identifiable by its traditional iconography: the skin garment and the lamb he holds, symbol of Christ as Agnus Dei. The carving shows the saint in a pointing attitude, reinforcing his role as a precursor and announcer of the coming of the Messiah.

The work is inscribed in the sculptural models of the 17th century, where naturalism is combined with a marked devotional intention. The treatment of the face, with expressive features and beard worked in defined volumes, together with the dynamism of the drapery, reveals a sensibility typical of the baroque sphere. The polychrome, today partially preserved, contributes to accentuate the realism of the figure and its physical presence.

Due to its formal and technical characteristics, the piece can be related to productions from European workshops of baroque tradition, possibly from the Mediterranean area, where this type of images were widely used in both religious and domestic contexts.