The Infant Jesus, Saviour of the World

home collections sculpture The Infant Jesus, Saviour of the World
INV ESC.40
Menino Jesus salvador do mundo

PLACE/DATE
Portugal, 2nd half of the 18th century

MATERIALS
Painted wood, sphere with cross in gilt silver

DIMENSIONS
43 x 22 x 22 cm

INV
ESC.40

Represented naked, in a gesture of blessing, holding in his left hand a sphere topped by a gilded silver cross, as a symbol of the world, this Infant Jesus sits on a gilded wooden pedestal topped by a cushion with tassels at the corners, in the style of the 18th century.

This extremely graceful piece reveals remarkable artistic and technical quality in the modelling, especially of the feet and hands, as well as the curly hair that frames the face.

This would have been an image to wear, much appreciated in female domestic devotional contexts, both in convents and in private homes in small oratories.