Latin America, Guatemala, ca. early 20th century CE. A hand carved and painted depiction of the Cristo Negro, literally Black Christ. This example is characteristically depicted in the crucified pose (arms carved separately and joined to the body), painted black, with head cocked toward the right, a silver painted loin cloth around waist and hips, perforations indicative of stigmata through extended hands, and a hand-cut and punched tin nimbus. A wondrous work of Spanish Colonial religious art! Custom stand. Size: 6.25" W x 8.25" H (15.9 cm x 21 cm); 8.75" H (22.2 cm) on included custom stand.

The worship of Cristo Negro has its origins in a town called Esquipulas, Guatemala in 1594 CE when an image was created by the Portuguese sculptor Quirio Cantano upon the request of the Guatemalan bishop. The darker complexion chosen by the early clergy was intentional, as it was thought that the indigenous population would then identify with the sufferings and sacrifice of Christ. As members of the lowest class of their society in their own land, they embraced the Cristo Negro and identified with his realistic agony and martyrdom. The dark brown Christ figures naturally darkened further to a blacker hue due to exposure to smoke and incense. And so, although the initial brown was intended to represent Indian skin color, many Christs created by the native population were created in the color black. In time miracles were ascribed to the so-called Black Christ or Cristo Negro.

Provenance: private Moore collection, Denver, Colorado, USA, acquired thirty years ago

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#121984

Missing nail through left hand's stigmata. Small loss to lower end of cross, age crack to one arm of cross. Stains from old labels on verso of cross. Nice craquelure to paint. Nimbus shows nice signs of age.