Salvator Mundi; Spanish School, 17th century

Salvator Mundi; Spanish School, 17th century
Carved, gilded, and polychromed wood
Shows signs of wear and restoration
Measurements: 66 x 27 x 22 cm.

A sculpture in the round depicting the Infant Jesus in his Salvator Mundi iconography, standing on a pedestal of gilded clouds, with a nude body rendered in warm flesh tones and softly modeled. The head, with wavy hair, has a serene expression. With his left hand, he holds the golden orb, a symbol of Christ’s universal sovereignty over the world, while his left arm—mutilated at the shoulder—was originally intended to be raised in a gesture of blessing. The figure rests on a base of clouds, which in turn sits on a pedestal with a mixtilinear profile.

The carving reflects the style of 17th-century Spanish religious sculpture, which was widely venerated and produced in workshops throughout both Castile and Andalusia, intended for worship and for small-scale processional imagery. It shows visible losses, as well as repainting and selective restorations to the polychromy and gilding.