Bidspirit auction | Saint John the Evangelist and

Saint John the Evangelist and the Virgin of Sorrows. Colonial School. 18th Century - Carved, polychromed, and gilded wood. Measures: 30 x 11 cm and 28 x 10 cm. This sculptural ensemble consists of two round figures whose attributes and arrangement represent Saint John the Evangelist and Our Lady of Sorrows, traditionally placed at the feet of the Crucified Christ in scenes of the Crucifixion. The Virgin appears wearing a blue-green cloak trimmed in gold, a crimson tunic, and a frontal face with a sad expression, staring straight ahead and with her arms crossed under her chest, accentuating the introspective drama of her figure. At her side, Saint John wears a yellow tunic and a red and green cloak, his head turned to the left and his gaze raised, in an attitude of listening and consolation, holding a partially lost book in his hand. Both figures feature richly ornamented upholstery and marked wear that reveals the lower layers of polychrome, reinforcing their age and liturgical use. The bodies are compact, rigidly but effectively carved, and display the elongated proportions characteristic of popular colonial imagery. The treatment of the face, the volumes, and the colors place these pieces within the devotional production of the 18th-century Colonial School, intended for the representation of Calvary on home altars or chapels.