Christ bearing his cross thumbnail 1
Christ bearing his cross thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Christ bearing his cross

Statuette
ca. 1720-1756 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Although this figure of Christ might appear to have been intended for Holy Week processions, it is in fact less than life size, which suggests it was probably made to serve as a devotional piece. The composition itself derives from a bronze by the renowned Italian sculptor Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654), who was based in Rome.
Alejandro Carnicero (1693-1756), however, was trained in Salamanca, Spain, and worked both there and in Madrid. He worked in wood and stone and also made engravings of his own sculpture. Between 1726 and 1731 he collaborated with Jose de Larra and others on the choirstalls of Salamanca Cathedral, and he probably completed the choirstalls at Guadalupe between 1742 and 1744.

One bronze version is in the convent of the Descalzas Reales in Madrid, while another is in the Ex-convento de Madres Capuchinas in Toledo. A third bronze was auctioned at Sotheby's, London on 5 December, 2012, lot 84 (formerly auctioned at Sotheby's, London, 13 November, 1975, lot 105, sold to the British Rail Pension Fund, then again at Sotheby's London, 4 July, 1996, lot 43).


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleChrist bearing his cross (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted and gilt pinewood, with holm oak veneered cross
Brief description
Statuette, painted and gilt pinewood, Christ Bearing his Cross, by Alexandro Carnicero, Spain (Salamanca), about 1720 to 1756.
Physical description
Statuette of painted and gilt pinewood and holm oak veneered cross depicting Christ Bearing his Cross. Glass eyes and brass and gold thread.
Dimensions
  • Height: 76.2cm
  • Width: 36.8cm
Object history
Bought, £31, 11s. 6d.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Although this figure of Christ might appear to have been intended for Holy Week processions, it is in fact less than life size, which suggests it was probably made to serve as a devotional piece. The composition itself derives from a bronze by the renowned Italian sculptor Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654), who was based in Rome.
Alejandro Carnicero (1693-1756), however, was trained in Salamanca, Spain, and worked both there and in Madrid. He worked in wood and stone and also made engravings of his own sculpture. Between 1726 and 1731 he collaborated with Jose de Larra and others on the choirstalls of Salamanca Cathedral, and he probably completed the choirstalls at Guadalupe between 1742 and 1744.

One bronze version is in the convent of the Descalzas Reales in Madrid, while another is in the Ex-convento de Madres Capuchinas in Toledo. A third bronze was auctioned at Sotheby's, London on 5 December, 2012, lot 84 (formerly auctioned at Sotheby's, London, 13 November, 1975, lot 105, sold to the British Rail Pension Fund, then again at Sotheby's London, 4 July, 1996, lot 43).
Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie. Spanish Sculpture. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. 172 p., ill. ISBN 1851771778.
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1864 In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 70
  • Baker, M. 'Spain and South Kensington. John harles Robinson and the Collecting of Spanish Sculpture in the 1860s'. In: V&A Album, III, 1984, fig. 6, p. 345
  • Castro, Juan Nicolau, 'El Exconvento de Madres Capuchinas, Un Museo de Arte Italiano en el Corazón de Toledo' Toletum: Boletín de la Real Academic de Bellas Artes y Cinencias Históricas de Toledo. No.54. 2007. p.51.
Collection
Accession number
102-1864

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Record createdNovember 20, 2002
Record URL
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