Relief, grotesque or candelieri. Wood. 16th century. For Sale

Relief. Carved, polychrome and golden wood. Century XVI.
Slightly rectangular wooden plate decorated with a relief on its forehead, made by lowering the way so that “a frame” is left on the table that serves as the basis for the work. It is possible to appreciate, with a golden finish, a symmetrical composition with a polychrome angel head with a top of a shaft with plant elements and a molding, from which two fantastic eagle-like birds located back to back and attached to that “line” by their tails. The background does not present any decorative element, neither carved nor painted, leaving the prominence to the mentioned elements.
These types of compositions were very common in the Renaissance throughout Europe, as the “fashion” of the grutescos spread from Italy. In the Spanish case, it is possible to compare it with elements present in many other works of the 16th century, such as the Main Altarpiece of the Parish Church of Santa María (Villa de Tauste, Zaragoza) made of wild pine wood and polychromy surely finished in 1529; the frieze with the heads of angels from the work of Diego de Sagredo entitled \"Measures of the Roman\" (1526, Toledo); works by Diego de Siloé; Altarpiece of the Collegiate Church of Torrijos (Toledo), commissioned in 1558 by Juan Corrrea de Vivar and presenting fantastic winged animals similar to those of the present relief in some details; etc. It should be noted that these decorative motifs will have a long tradition in Spanish Art. It is quite possible that the present relief plaque was created to be part of an altar in a church even if it is not decorated with a religious theme (note that the theme of \"winged heads\", often called \"putti\", also proceeds of Italy and is in both civil and religious works).\"
· Size: 22x5x27 cms.