Subasta Especial de Arte Colonial y Alta Época
Preserving its original polychromy and gilding. With sgraffito and gilt base sculpted in the same set. Small flaws and cracks in the wood (right hand). In a meditative attitude, with fine details and looking at the viewer while holding a skull with his right hand, in allegory of his final destination on the Cross. The genre of vanitas became popular from the 15th century and found its point of maximum expansion in the Baroque, in which the viewer is brought closer to faith, showing them the ephemeral of life, the fleeting and insignificant of material things, the Latin phrase that defines it is “Vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas”, which means that “everything is vanity”. Vanity in the sense of emptiness, insignificance… The concept of vanitas has been used for two purposes throughout the centuries: to encourage to enjoy the moment (the “carpe diem”, live the day); or as a reflection of the Counter-Reformation of the Catholic Church so as not to “waste” life on worldly things without feeding the soul, without preparing for the afterlife. Group measurements: 23 (height) x 58 (length) x 33 (width). Origin: Basque private collection made between the 70s and the 90s.
