The Virgin Crushing the Demon
Wooden sculpture with traces of polychromy
Spanish artist
Late Romanesque period, 13th century
Carved walnut
H. 55 cm, W. 14 cm, D. 12 cm
Excellent condition relative to the period.
This extraordinary wooden sculpture, an important historical and artistic document, best represents the first signs of the artistic revival after the long dark night of the Middle Ages.
We are in the 13th century, and the first enlightened artists of the Romanesque era are beginning to produce artifacts that, despite their evident simplicity of execution, express incredible symbolic strength and a refined stylistic purity.
The path that will lead in subsequent centuries to the splendors of the Renaissance, passing through the important and surprising lesson of Gothic art, is about to begin.
Here we can admire the innovative and inspired work of an artist who lived almost a thousand years before our time. His hands have shaped a perfect cult image, exclusively sacred, far from the religious representations of future centuries which, overriding devotional purpose, exalt themselves in the celebration of individual artistic capabilities.
At a time of widespread Christianity, sculpture became a simple and effective tool to instruct people and convert them to the Christian faith.
Observing the work, its spiritual message is exceptional.
After original sin, God addresses Satan, curses him, and warns him with a promise: "I will put enmity between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. She will crush your head, and God himself will triumph." That Woman is the Virgin Mary, from whom Jesus Christ was born, who with his sacrifice defeated the ancient tempter forever to save humanity from original sin.
For this reason, in many paintings or statues of the Immaculate Conception, she is depicted crushing a serpent and, more anciently, in the Middle Ages, a Dragon, or the malevolent rebel Lucifer. The Virgin is depicted here praying, with her hands clasped, while the Demon at her feet writhes, definitively defeated.
The eternal struggle between Good and Evil sees the Mother of God triumph, presenting herself in a pose of great suggestion and exceptional grace.
The author offers us an image that embodies the best characteristics of early Romanesque art and manages to express an intense Christian message in an extremely concise manner, but with extraordinary stylistic elegance, far from the exuberant sculptural virtuosity of the great Renaissance interpreters.
This is a work that satisfies the most demanding collector, always in search of the rarest and most exciting piece.
The wooden essence is absolutely intact, with a solid and compact consistency.
The traces of polychromy that still cover some parts of the surface are distinguished by a vivid coloration, where the very bright red is typical of the lacquer present in medieval artifacts executed by Spanish artists.
We provide a stamped and signed certificate of authenticity that guarantees the period, provenance, and all characteristics of the work, drawn up by an antiquarian affiliated with FIMA (ITALIAN FEDERATION OF ART MERCHANTS).
Delivery in Italy and throughout Europe within 3 days of receipt of bank transfer.
Shipping is tracked and insured and travels with careful shockproof packaging inside a custom-made wooden crate.
