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Unknown Maker, Spanish

Head of Christ or a Saint
Now On View

Maker

Unknown Maker, Spanish

Culture

Spanish

Title

head (representation)

Year

ca. 1220-1240

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

walnut wood, paint

Geography

Sahagun

Dimensions

81.3 x 50.8 x 50.8 cm (32 x 20 x 20 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Museum Works of Art Fund

Object Number

59.131

Type

Articles

Wood in the Middle Ages
Head of Christ or a Saint

Exhibition History

European Galleries
Sep 02, 2017

Label copy

The identity and architectural context of this carved wooden head have not been clearly determined, but its benevolent gaze and large size suggest it may have adorned a medieval church. Most likely made in a workshop where wooden sculptures were carved and painted, the head is roughly carved on its back, suggesting a fixed placement in a niche or against a wall. Once brightly painted, it was meant to be seen from a distance. It may have been positioned in a church along the route to the shrine of Saint James of Compostela in Spain.

Intermission
Dec 16, 2016 – Jul 02, 2017

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Spanish
head (representation), ca. 1220-1240
Walnut with polychromy (colored paint)
81.3 x 50.8 x 50.8 cm (32 x 20 x 20 inches)
Museum Works of Art Fund 59.131

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