MADRID.- The Museo Nacional del Prado will unveil five recently acquired polychrome wooden sculptures in a new exhibition titled "Darse la mano. Escultura y color en el Siglo de Oro" ("Shaking Hands: Sculpture and Color in the Golden Age"). Sponsored by Fundación AXA, this exhibition will open on November 19, providing visitors a rare glimpse into Spain's rich tradition of polychrome sculpture, a remarkable artistic genre that combines sculpture with vibrant color to enhance its narrative and emotional impact.
This new collection includes the sculptures The Good Thief (Dimas) and The Bad Thief (Gestas) by Alonso Berruguete, Saint John the Baptist by Juan de Mesa, and two figures representing Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus from a late medieval Castilian Descent from the Cross. These works offer visitors insight into the evolution of Spanish art and its intricate interplay of color and form during the Golden Age.
A Glimpse of Spanish Mastery in Polychrome Sculpture
The Prado Museum is renowned for its collection of masterpieces in painting and sculpture. This new acquisition, however, emphasizes the importance of polychrome wood in Spanish art, showcasing works that integrate painting and sculpture in a uniquely Spanish tradition. Polychrome wood sculptures were not merely completed in wood but were intricately painted, adding depth, color, and realism to their forms. The colors were essential, lending the sculptures a powerful, lifelike quality that was a significant part of their visual appeal.
Highlights of the New Collection
The Good and Bad Thieves by Alonso Berruguete: These two sculptures, depicting Dimas and Gestas from a Calvary scene, demonstrate Berruguete’s mastery of form and emotional expression. The figures, one facing forward and the other backward, display daring anatomical precision, with poses that break from traditional conventions. These smaller-scale sculptures, intended for private prayer spaces, are rare survivors from Berruguete’s body of work, making them exceptional additions to the Prado’s collection.
Saint John the Baptist by Juan de Mesa: This statue depicts Saint John holding the holy book with a lamb on his left hand and his right arm raised in a gesture of proclamation. Dressed in a camel skin tunic with a richly patterned red cloak adorned with gold leaf, Saint John embodies the grandeur typical of altar pieces. The sculpture’s detailed work extends to its back, enhancing the piece's three-dimensional and chromatic richness.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus from a Castilian Descent from the Cross: These figures illustrate the moment of Christ’s descent from the cross, where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, known from the Gospels, play a significant role in his burial. Clad in medieval attire decorated with heraldic symbols, these sculptures are a powerful reminder of Spain’s early religious theater, designed to narrate and visually interpret Christian stories.
Broadening the Prado's Artistic Landscape
The acquisition of these sculptures enriches the Prado’s collection and enhances the understanding of polychrome sculpture's essential role in Spanish art. By showcasing the complementary relationship between painting and sculpture, the exhibition will emphasize how Spanish artists, through color and form, conveyed complex religious narratives that engaged and moved their audience.
"Darse la mano. Escultura y color en el Siglo de Oro" thus offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the distinct Spanish tradition of polychrome wood sculpture, experiencing firsthand the vibrant colors and meticulous craftsmanship that defined this art form. Through this exhibition, the Prado reaffirms its role as a custodian of Spain's artistic heritage, highlighting the enduring legacy of Golden Age artists and their mastery in bringing religious figures to life.
