Bidspirit auction | Virgin of Antigua with Child.

Virgin of Antigua with Child. Castilian School. 17th Century - Carved and polychrome wood with silver radiating crown. Measurements: 54 cm (carving), 81 cm (including base and crown), width 22 cm. The figure presents the Virgin Mary standing on a polygonal base, holding the Christ Child in her left arm, both depicted with a solemn and serene frontality. The Virgin is clothed in a tunic and mantle with remnants of original polychromy and gilded estofado, featuring vegetal motifs and finely carved drapery. The Child, with a tender expression and nude torso, displays a naïve style of carving, consistent with the devotional character of the work. The silver crown with radiant halo is an original element from the period, emphasizing its liturgical function. Despite signs of wear, the technical quality is evident in the delicate rendering of the faces and the structured composition. This type of imagery is representative of the Castilian School from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, where simplicity of form and restrained expressiveness aimed to inspire popular devotion. Its preservation, with an aged patina, lends strong spiritual and historical value as a testimony of early Baroque religiosity.