Bidspirit auction | Saint Peter with the key

Saint Peter with the key and the Bible. Hispanic religious sculpture. 16th century - Polychrome wood. Dimensions: 57 cm high x 32 cm wide. Sculpture of Saint Peter, conceived as a freestanding figure on an octagonal base, depicted standing with a slight contrapposto and a solemn attitude, holding the key to Paradise in his right hand and the Bible in his left, iconographic attributes that reinforce his apostolic authority. The face, with its elongated features and introspective gaze, is framed by curly hair and a full beard, both rendered with profound artistic skill. He wears a tunic cinched at the waist with a carved belt and a wide cloak that falls in angular, well-structured folds, creating a rhythmic interplay of volumes. The original polychromy, now faded, retains visible traces that accentuate the reliefs and the anatomy. The carving reveals a solid and expressive technique, typical of late Renaissance Spanish religious sculpture, with formal influences from the late Gothic period. A 16th-century work of remarkable devotional quality and sculptural presence. Source: Wilkinson's, 26/05/2010.