작품 상세

Flemish School. Circa 1500. “Saint with Chalice and Book of the Holy Scriptures” Carved, gilded, and polychromed wooden sculpture. Accompanied by its original base in carved and gilded wood. 32 x 13,5 x 8 cm. Measurements with base: 39 x 19 x 10 cm. Due to its characteristics, our sculpture shows clear influences from the production of images in the Netherlands, specifically in Mechelen. The slanted eyes and small mouth, the fine and elegant folds of her clothing. A truly sweet and devotional image. In the absence of an identification of the saint, we consider the hypothesis that it may be Mary Magdalene, since she is sometimes represented as the divine reader and the myrrh-bearer, the carrier of ointments, which could correspond to the chalice from which the lid may have been removed. However, the fact that she is depicted wearing a toga and not showing off her beautiful hair makes us doubt this. The second hypothesis would be that it is Saint Barbara of Nicomedia, who is sometimes depicted with a chalice and host instead of a tower, lightning bolt, or dragon: dressed in a toga like a lady and holding a chalice, the symbol of Christianity, which she embraced. Medieval.