PAIR OF RELIEFS; GROTESQUE OR CANDELIERI. POLICHROMED AND GILDED WOOD. 16TH CENTURY.
Antiques -
Reference: ZE238
Pair of reliefs; grotesques or candelieri. Carved, polychrome and gilded wood. 16th century. Pair of reliefs made of hand-carved, gilded and polychrome wood, each showing a winged angel's head (or putti), placed on a vertical element that acts as an axis of symmetry for the composition of the relief. The rest of the motifs that complete the works are leaves with scrolls, floral or vegetal details, latticework, mouldings, all of clear classicist influence. The background does not present any decorative element, neither carved nor painted, thus leaving the spotlight to the aforementioned elements. This type of composition was very common in the Renaissance throughout Europe, when the “fashion” of grotesques spread from Italy. Compare, for example, the frieze reflected in an image of the work by Diego de Sagredo entitled “Medidas del Romano” (1526, Toledo); details of the Chapel of Santa Librada in the Cathedral of Sigüenza by Francisco de Baeza (around 1520); others from the façade of the Escuelas Mayores of the University of Salamanca; Main Altarpiece of the Collegiate Church of Torrijos (Toledo), commissioned in 1558 from Juan Correa de Vivar; etc. It should be noted that these decorative motifs will have a long tradition in Spanish art. It is quite possible that the present relief plaque was created to form part of an altar in a church although it is not decorated with a religious theme (note that the theme of “winged heads”, often called “putti”, also comes from Italy and is found in both civil and religious works).
· Size: 14x5x22 cms.
1.200 €