Gothic Christ from the 14th century.
Carved and polychrome wood.
Measurements: 147 x 32 x 27 cm.
Image in round bulk carved in wood and polychrome, representing Christ crucified, already dead, with closed eyelids and half-open lips. The tilted head draws a spiral with respect to the legs bent to the opposite side, so that the body is harmonious in anatomy and proportions. There is a restrained drama in the treatment of the traces of suffering, especially in the chest with its marked ribs, and the thinness that gives a glimpse of muscles and tendons, as if the tension of pain were still palpitating in the inert body. The purity cloth is gathered at the side, favouring a play of naturalistic drapery. All these characteristics are typical of the late Gothic period: the naturalism imprinted on the canvases, which differs from the greater angularity of the early Gothic, as well as the study of chiaroscuro and the realistic intention in the anatomical description.
During the Gothic period, free-standing sculpture, independent of the architectural framework, considerably increased its repertoire, both in terms of typology (sepulchres, pulpits...) and iconography (new saints, new orders...). However, the figure of the crucified Christ respects the tradition of the Romanesque period, although the colobium (living Christ, dressed in a tunic) disappears and the perizonium (with a cloth of purity) is maintained. From the Gothic period onwards, Christ was depicted dressed only in a cloth of purity. In the Romanesque it always appeared with four nails, but in the Gothic period the model of three nails became more and more frequent, with only one for the feet, as we see here. As the Gothic period progressed, the cloth of purity became shorter, until the knees were exposed.
The representation of the crucifixion has undergone an evolution parallel to the liturgical and theological variations of Catholic doctrine in which we would like to point out three milestones: at first early Christian art omitted the representation of the human figure of Christ and the crucifixion was represented by means of the "Agnus Dei", the mystical lamb carrying the cross of martyrdom. Until the 11th century Christ was represented crucified but alive and triumphant, with his eyes open, in accordance with the Byzantine rite, which did not consider the possibility of the existence of Christ's corpse. Later, under the theological consideration that the death of the Saviour was not due to an organic process but to an act of divine will, Christ is represented, as in our work, already dead with his eyes closed and his head fallen on his right shoulder, showing the sufferings of the passion, provoking commiseration.