HEAD OF CHRIST Flanders, end of 15th century Polychrome... Lot 15

HEAD OF CHRIST Flanders, end of 15th century Polychrome limestone H. 32 cm , W. 29 cm , D. 22 cm Accidents This head of Christ evokes the triumph of Death. Christ, appeased, eyes half-closed, face smooth almost emaciated, hair and beard carefully combed, gives the image of serenity. The only reminder of the torture is the crown of thorns, one of the instruments of the Passion. Accentuating the contrast with the peace of the face, the crown occupies an imposing part of the composition, almost overwhelming in its grandeur. Two similar Christs from Leuven dating from the 15th and 16th centuries express the same pathos as ours (fig. 1 and 2). Our head of Christ has preserved beautiful remains of polychromy and a finesse in the overall execution.