JOSÉ RISUEÑO

(1665 / 1732)

JOSE RISUEÑO Granada (1665) / (1732) "Little Saint John"

Carved and polychrome wood. Jose Risueño trained in the workshop of Diego de Mora, and his sculptures show the influence of Alonso Cano, due to his careful polychromy, and Pedro de Mena, due to his restrained emotion, although he also moved towards a greater externalization of his feelings. One of the most representative images of his production is that of the child Saint John the Baptist, presented next to the lamb, of which there are a good number of examples attributed to the sculptor and his workshop. A good example of its extraordinary plastic quality is the beautiful and delicate work presented here, representing Saint John the Baptist, which combines all the sweetness of the best Granada school of sculpture. Its dimensions clearly indicate that it was a piece conceived for private devotion, a fact that has allowed its original polychromy to be better preserved. The model follows the characteristics of the works with the same theme produced by Risueño and his workshop, presenting a strong formal parallel in the figure's position with the example preserved in the Monastery of Santa Paula in Seville, although, in this work, it appears modestly covered with camel skin. Another similar example, although devoid of iconographic attributes, is preserved in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Compositionally, the movement of the sculpture with the body of Saint John in complete twist stands out. The torso and arms adopt a twisted position that shows the intention of embracing or picking up the lamb, while the head turns in the opposite direction, directing its gaze toward the ground. The quality of the flesh tones stands out in all of them, with their folds and excellent polychromy, as well as the figure's contouring, common in Risueño, in which one of the saint's legs appears to be climbing a rock sculpted at the base. Dimensions: 26.5 cm. (32 cm. with the crown)