Crucifix Corpus

Title: Crucifix Corpus
Object: carved and polychromed sculpture of a male figure depicting the crucified Christ
Media: Figure: wood, gesso, paint
Crown: welded metal (probably brass), glass gemstone in setting
Origin: Hispanic (probably Mexico) 18h-19th century
Dimensions: 20.5 in. x 17.5 in. x 4.5 in
Artist: unknown
Collection: Nueva Hispana collection, Blackfriars Institute for Religion & the Arts
Formal Description:
The object that is under iconological examination is a small sculpture made primarily of carved wood, coated in gesso and decoratively painted. This sculpture depicts a young man, with the typical characteristics of Christ, namely a strong lean body, cleft beard, and long dark, wavy hair. The figure is entirely painted and displays large open and bleeding wounds at many points upon the body including knees, elbows, side of torso, and exposed ribs in the back. The exposed ribs are made of small strips of a stronger material, probably wicker or horn, and affixed to the wood. The pattern of painted blood is typical for such work and follows around the neck and down the center of the figure, and oozes from the wounds. The sculpture has some visible cracking and small damages to the painted surface due to age, especially around the delicate fingers and across the back, revealing the underlayers of gesso. In bare spots it reveals that the wood is of a fine grain (probably a form of hardwood).
The arms are outstretched, and there are drilled holes in the figure’s hands and overlapping feet. This detail suggests that the sculpture was originally intended to be affixed by small nails to a (missing) cross component. A separate, removable metal crown is fitted to the figures head, symbolizing the braided Crown of Thorns. It is set with a several glass or semi-precious jewels. This metal crown is tarnished and darkened with a patina of age (suggesting it might be brass), and it is missing a jewel in a setting, but otherwise is in good condition. The figure is depicted naked, with the exception of a carved rope and loincloth. The figure’s head is lowered and falls to his right. The heavily lidded eyes are depicted half-closed with the iris visible, suggesting that the figure is not yet deceased. That Christ is still alive in this moment is also suggested by the pallor of the skin tones, which remain flesh colored. Christ’s expression is one of sadness and surrender, and the fact of his eyes being half open would have been important in creating a feeling of rapport with Jesus in the mind of the devotee during deep prayer devotions.