Cross and pedestal; 16th and 18th centuries. Stone... Lot 27

Cross and pedestal; 16th and 18th centuries. Stone carving. Pedestal adapted to the carving of the cross. Measurements: 94 x 45 x 31 cm. The cross is supported on a stone base which, due to its structure, seems to be the base of a column. In fact, the base of the original column can be seen in the upper part. As for the design of the base, it is adorned with figurative reliefs. On the front, the carving shows a knight mounted on his horse, which has a cabriole posture, thus adding great dynamism to the design of the carving. As for the representation of the knight, it is worth noting that during the Renaissance these medieval figures were revived, giving them great prestige that crystallised in Machiavelli's Prince. The rear part of the base also has ornamentation, in this case a crescent and star sticks carved in a schematic manner. The Renaissance cross above the base has a more polished technical finish, with smoother and more refined lines. The piece also has carvings on both sides, the most important of which is the one depicting the crucifixion of Christ. The crucifixion of Jesus has been depicted in religious art since the 4th century. It is one of the most recurrent themes in Christian art and the one with the most evident iconography. Although Christ is sometimes depicted clothed, his body is usually depicted naked, although his genitals are covered with a cloth of purity (perizonium). The finish of the carving presents us with a figure of Jesus with strong anatomical forms, with marked ribs and the tension reflected in the joints of the arms. The rear area has a religious image of a religious man wearing a cap and holding a bunch of wheat in one of his hands, so it is probably a representation of Saint John of Cologne.