Spanish school; second third of the XVI century.

Spanish school; second third of the 16th century.
"Risen Christ, the fall on the way to Calvary and Donors".
Oil on panel.
Presents restorations.
Measurements: 39 x 22 cm (x4); 94 x 32 cm (frames, x4).
This pictorial group composed by four independent panels constitutes a representative example of the persistence of the Hispanic-Flemish tradition in the peninsular religious painting, in a moment of transition towards the fully Renaissance languages. The four panels combine scenes of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ with the praying effigies of the donors, integrating private devotion and liturgical function in the same visual program.
The arrangement of the set alternates two narrative scenes, the Fall of Christ on the way to Calvary and the Resurrected Christ, with two votive portraits of the donors, identified by inscriptions as Dominga de Aguirre and de Torizes. Both appear kneeling in an attitude of prayer, isolated in open landscapes and dressed in sober dark clothing that emphasizes their spiritual recollection. This type of representation was extraordinarily frequent in Renaissance Europe and, in particular, in the Hispanic territories, where nobles, clergymen and wealthy families financed altarpieces and devotional paintings to ensure social prestige, perpetuate the memory of their lineage and publicly manifest their faith. In many cases, these works were destined for private chapels, monasteries or small domestic oratories.
From the stylistic point of view, the collection shows characteristic features of 16th century Spanish painting, especially in the tradition inherited from the Flemish world. There is an interest in clear and direct narration, the restrained expressiveness of the figures and a taste for meticulous detail in elements such as clothing, landscapes and architecture. The compositions maintain a simple balance, with monumental figures in the foreground and open backgrounds that provide spatial depth.