Carved Wooden Statue - Saint John The Baptist And The Lamb - Spanish School - Late Period

Mid-17th century - Late Period Origin: Spain Superb polychrome carved wooden statue representing Saint John the Baptist. Made of monoxyl wood, this sculpture illustrates the saint in a meditative posture, accompanied by a lamb leaping joyfully on his right thigh, a strong symbol of his role as announcer of Christ. The iconography of the lamb is directly linked to one of the titles attributed to Jesus by Saint John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In the Christian tradition, the lamb symbolizes Christ as a sacrificial victim, offered for the salvation of humanity. The joyful attitude of the lamb in this Spanish sculpture reinforces the idea of a willing sacrifice and divine redemption. A similar statuette, with comparable iconography, is kept at the Louvre: • Main inventory number: CL 20807 • Collection: Department of Medieval, Renaissance and Modern Art Objects. Characteristics: • Missing left hand: The saint's left hand was originally designed to hold an object, probably a cross accompanied by a phylactery, thus reinforcing the narrative and liturgical aspect of the work. • Preferred frontal view: This sculpture is designed for a frontal view only, the back being roughly sculpted. This detail suggests a liturgical destination, probably in a niche or on an altar. • Blackened wooden base: The statue rests on a square blackened wooden base, providing stability and presence to the whole. (Not separable) Polychromy and condition: The statue retains visible traces of original polychromy, in particular shades of gold, red and black, which highlight the folds of its clothing and the dynamism of the scene. The wear of time, as well as some chips and missing parts, reinforce the authentic and historical character of this unique piece. History of Saint John the Baptist: Saint John the Baptist was born in the 1st century, as the precursor of the Messiah. At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel said to Mary: “Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, is in her sixth month.” Three months later, the Church celebrated the birth of John the Baptist. His father, Zechariah, had lost the power of speech due to doubts about his wife’s late fertility. When John was born, he regained his speech and proclaimed: “His name is John,” a name that means “God is gracious.” About him, Jesus said: “Among those born of women, there is none greater than John the Baptist.” Even before his birth, John recognized Christ and leapt for joy in his presence. Later, he will baptize him and lead his best disciples to him, humbly declaring: “He must increase and I must decrease.” Dimensions: Height with base: 26 cm Shipping: ALL DELIVERIES ARE MADE BY DHL EXPRESS ONLY!