Head of Christ in limestone carved in the... - Lot 71 - Coutau-Bégarie

Lot 71
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Estimation :
6000 - 8000 EUR
Head of Christ in limestone carved in the... - Lot 71 - Coutau-Bégarie
Head of Christ in limestone carved in the round. Part of a Crucifixion, head encircled by a braided crown of thorns, resting on hair with a median parting and long wavy strands falling on the nape of the neck, thin nose, half-open mouth, bifid beard with curled ends. Lorraine, first quarter of the 16th century H. 38.5 cm (small accidents and missing parts) This sculpture with its refined modeling is very sensitive. The sculptor has expressed the bitter sweetness of Christ without spectacular effect. The branches of the crown, but also the smooth sensuality of the face translate something other than the dramatic suffering of the moment. What is remarkable in this sculpture is the great suppleness of the hair strands showing the silky aspect of a soft fine hair. The backward swept ends of the hair, which curl up in a snail shape, are the sign of an obvious Germanic influence. Indeed, this mastery of the chisel can be found in Alsatian works, for example with Veit Wagner in his figure of Christ around 1500 preserved in the Sélestat Library, but also in that of the Mary Magdalene of the group of the Christ of the Anointing preserved in the church of Saint-Gorgon de Varangéville (Meurthe et Moselle) by the Master of Varangeville and dated 1496.(Fig A) Works consulted : Sculptures allemandes de la fin du Moyen Age, catalog of the exhibition, Musée du Louvre, 22 October 1991 - 20 January 1992. pp 95 - 97 JACQUES Baudoin, La sculpture flamboyante en Champagne Lorraine, 1990, pp267
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