The Museum of the Ways of the Gaudí Palace presents as ‘Piece of the month’ of April an expiring Christ made in ivory and dated 1607. The work is exhibited throughout this month in a prominent place on the second floor of the Gaudí Palace.
It is an Indian ivory Christ, without arms or cross, corresponding to the typology of expiring: raised head, open mouth, high supraciliary arches and narrow forehead. Hair in an inverted “V” shape, with loops and raised pectorals, sunken belly and taut legs.
The perizome is exceptional, both its anterior and posterior part. It has a rectangular shape, topped with a fretwork. The back shows the engraving of the acronym JAG and the date 1607. Signed and dated ivory works are a rarity. Only ten of this master’s works have been catalogued. The acronym has not been deciphered, although it is very likely that its author is Hispanic, active between 1607 and 1630 and influenced by Romanism. The technical quality of the piece is extraordinary and still shows traces of polychromy. For all these reasons, we can consider it an eborary work of reference.
At the end of April, the piece will be moved, but will remain until the end of the year along with the rest of the works featured monthly. The Gaudí Palace is open daily from Monday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm and in the afternoons from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm.