Peruvian Colonial Artist, Polychromed Sculpture of Saint Urban I, 1750, Wood

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This rare carved wooden sculpture depicts Saint Urban I, Pope and Martyr, portrayed wearing richly decorated pontifical vestments, holding a … Read more This rare carved wooden sculpture depicts Saint Urban I, Pope and Martyr, portrayed wearing richly decorated pontifical vestments, holding a book and a cluster of grapes, traditional attributes associated with his iconography as protector of vineyards and winemakers. Created during the 18th century, the sculpture is a fine example of Spanish Colonial devotional carving, distinguished by its expressive facial features, finely sculpted beard, flowing drapery and strong Baroque presence. The figure stands on its original molded base decorated with a carved cherub's head, reinforcing its ecclesiastical character. The sculpture measures 91 cm high, 30 cm wide and 25 cm deep, giving it an impressive scale suitable for both private collections and institutional displays. The work has undergone extensive professional conservation. Historic structural issues were stabilized, surviving evidence of earlier polychromy was carefully studied, and the painted surface was sympathetically reconstructed during restoration in order to recover the sculpture's devotional appearance while respecting the integrity of the original carving. The intervention was undertaken as a conservation treatment rather than an attempt to create a new work, and the sculpture retains visible evidence of its age and long devotional history. An uncommon representation of Saint Urban I, offering exceptional decorative presence and representing an attractive acquisition for collectors of Spanish Colonial, ecclesiastical and Baroque sculpture. See less