The Infant St John the Baptist
Statuette
ca. 1700 (made)
ca. 1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The techniques used in carving in wood and stone were fundamentally the same. First the sculptor carved the rough shape of the piece, a process known as ‘blocking out’. Then, he would work the surface with knives or chisels and abrasives. The figure was generally held horizontally at a workbench and attached to cylindrical shafts, so the sculptor could turn the piece as he carved. Small-scale pieces were generally carved at a workbench.
The downward glance of the Infant St John the Baptist implies that this piece was originally intended to be placed above the viewer. The twisting pose and tenderness of expression suggest it is the work of the Granada sculptor José Risueño. In Spain the surface decoration was further specialised. The work was divided between craftsmen who executed flesh tones, gilding or drapery. This often gave the sculpture an extraordinarily lifelike appearance.
The downward glance of the Infant St John the Baptist implies that this piece was originally intended to be placed above the viewer. The twisting pose and tenderness of expression suggest it is the work of the Granada sculptor José Risueño. In Spain the surface decoration was further specialised. The work was divided between craftsmen who executed flesh tones, gilding or drapery. This often gave the sculpture an extraordinarily lifelike appearance.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Infant St John the Baptist (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted pinewood |
| Brief description | Statuette, the Infant St John the Baptist, made in the circle of José Risueno, Spain (Granada) about 1700 |
| Physical description | Painted pinewood statuette depicting the Infant St John the Baptist grasping a lamb standing on its hind legs to his left side. He half-kneels, resting on his right knee, his body twisted round. He wears a white lambskin shirt, with a red cape over it. The group is on abase painted green, and roughly carved to resemble foliage. A large hole is drilled in the underside of the base, perhaps to contain a dowel. The underside of the base is fully carved and painted. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought by John Charles Robinson from the Canon Cepero Collection in Seville, for £7 18s. |
| Historical context | The youthful St John the Baptist and lamb was a popular theme in Spanish painting and sculpture throughout the 17th century. It was probably a single devotional piece rather than an element in a larger ensemble. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The techniques used in carving in wood and stone were fundamentally the same. First the sculptor carved the rough shape of the piece, a process known as ‘blocking out’. Then, he would work the surface with knives or chisels and abrasives. The figure was generally held horizontally at a workbench and attached to cylindrical shafts, so the sculptor could turn the piece as he carved. Small-scale pieces were generally carved at a workbench. The downward glance of the Infant St John the Baptist implies that this piece was originally intended to be placed above the viewer. The twisting pose and tenderness of expression suggest it is the work of the Granada sculptor José Risueño. In Spain the surface decoration was further specialised. The work was divided between craftsmen who executed flesh tones, gilding or drapery. This often gave the sculpture an extraordinarily lifelike appearance. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 171-1864 |
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| Record created | November 13, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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