Lot 1174 Dα

Flemish early 16th century

An early 16th century Flemish oak figure of a holy bishop

Carved three-quarters in the round, the reverse flattened and deeply hollowed out. Minimal remains of former polychromy. A full-figure depiction of a saint standing in contrapposto with his left foot extended, designed for a frontal viewpoint. He wears the robes of a bishop, holds an open book in his left hand, the bishop's crozier which he would have held in his right hand is now lost. The fine quality of the piece is particularly evident in the precise rendering of the voluminous and gently falling curves of the drapery, which contrast with the figure's detailed facial features, curling locks of hair, decorated mitre, and the tassels of his dalmatic.
With several fine vertical cracks, three small filled areas to the reverse (around shoulder height and to the plinth). Minimal wear. Height 109 cm.