Skip to main content

Visit Main Menu Block

  • Hours & Admission
  • Accessibility & Amenities
  • Tours & Group Visits
  • Visitor Guidelines

Exhibitions and Events Main Menu Block

  • Exhibitions
  • Events

Art and Design Main Menu Block

  • The Collection
  • Projects & Publications
  • Past Exhibitions

Footer Main

  • Become a Member
  • Give
  • Who We Are
  • Opportunities
  • Rent the Museum

Image

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 / 5 Next

Spanish

Head of Christ or a Saint, ca. 1220-1240

Now On View

Description

Maker

  • Unknown

Culture

Spanish

Title

Head of Christ or a Saint

Year

ca. 1220-1240

Medium

Walnut with polychromy (colored paint)

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • walnut wood,
  • paint

Dimensions

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

Type

  • Sculpture

Credit

Museum Works of Art Fund

Object Number

59.131

About

The identity and original context of this massive head has not been clearly determined. Because of its scale, it was long thought to be Saint Christopher, a ferryman of prodigious size who was known to protect travelers. Saint James has also been suggested, but there are no signs of his identifying pilgrim’s hat and seashell. The head’s direct gaze, faint smile, and facial symmetry offer a third possibility: a variation of the image of Christ in Majesty that was often depicted in sculptural relief above the central portals of medieval churches. The back of the sculpture is roughly carved, suggesting a fixed placement in a niche or against a wall, either outdoors or within a church. Once brightly painted, it was meant to be seen from a distance, and may have been venerated by pilgrims along the route to the shrine of Saint James of Compostela in Spain.

[]

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Intermission

December 16, 2016 - July 2, 2017

European Galleries

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.

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Head of Christ or a Saint with the accession number of 59.131. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

RISD Museum

  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Instagram
  •  Vimeo
  •  Pinterest
  •  SoundCloud

Footer Main

  • Become a Member
  • Give
  • Who We Are
  • Opportunities
  • Rent the Museum

Footer Secondary

  • Image Request
  • Press Office
  • Rent the Museum
  • Terms of Use