The Sacred Made Real: Spanish Painting and Sculpture 1600-1700

The Sacred Made Real: Spanish Painting and Sculpture 1600-1700 by De Ceballos, Alfonso Rodriguez G.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 8601416181431.

In 16th- and 17th-century Spain, sculptors and painters combined their skills to depict, with astonishing realism, the great religious themes. Wooden sculptures of the saints, the Immaculate Conception, or the Passion of Christ were painstakingly carved, gessoed, and intricately painted, even embellished with glass eyes and tears and ivory teeth. Some were shockingly graphic in their depiction of Christs sufferings; others, beautifully clothed, appeared to bring saints to glorious life. These were objects of divine inspiration to the faithful, whether displayed on altars or processed through the streets on holy days. Featuring new photography, this book reappraises the unique form of Spanish painted wooden sculpture. In addition to examining the sculptures’ religious roles, it also explores the unique creative relationship of sculptor and painter: Velazquezs teacher and father-in-law Francisco Pacheco, for example, often painted the flesh and drapery of wood carvings by the celebrated sculptor Juan Martinez Montañès, and taught a generation of students. The skill of painting these hyper-realistic sculptures was an integral part of an artists training, enhancing his sensitivity to visual impact and physical presence—evident in paintings of the period. Published by National Gallery Company/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule: National Gallery, London (October 2009 – January 2010) National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (February – May 2010)