Lot 78
Latin America, Mexico, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. A hand carved and painted depiction of the Cristo Negro, literally Black Christ. The worship of Cristo Negro has its origins in a town called Esquipulas, Guatemala in 1594 CE when an image was creatd 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. This example is characteristically depicted in the crucified pose, painted black, with head cocked toward the right, blue mantle tied around waist and hips, and perforations indicative of stigmata through extended hands and feet and one laceration at chest. A wondrous work of Spanish Colonial religious art! Size: 17-1/4" x 17" fingertip to fingertip (43.8 x 43.2 cm)
Provenance: Ex-private T. Jones collection, New York, NY
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#110542
- Condition: Arms reattached, losses to fingertips, wear and losses to painted surface as shown. Modern hook on back side for suspension.
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