Lot 67: A CARVED FRUITWOOD, WALNUT AND WALNUT-VENEERED ALTAR CRUCIFIX

A CARVED FRUITWOOD, WALNUT AND WALNUT-VENEERED ALTAR CRUCIFIX
CIRCLE OF LOUIS WILLEMSSENS (1630-1702), CIRCA 1680
The cross on an elaborate base decorated with two fruitwood cherubim heads
30¾ in. (78.1 cm.) high

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
P. Philippot, D. Coekelbergs, P. Loze and D. Vautier L'Architecture Réligieuse et la Sculpture Baroques dans les Pays-bas Méridionaux et la Principauté de Liège 1600-1770, Sprimont, 2003, p. 907, fig. 1.

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This unusual and highly distinctive wood altar cross appears to have its origins in the Netherlands at the end of the 17th century, with some stylistic parallels to the works of the Antwerp-born sculptor Louis Willemssens. His carved wood figure of an angel in the church of St. Nicholas, Brussels (loc. cit.) demonstrates a similar attention to the characterful, oval, faces of the winged putti on the base of the present lot and to the very idiosyncratic treatment of their short, but highly curly, hair. Further similarities can also be seen in the carving of the wings with their large, simply finished feathers and in the drapery of Christ's loin cloth.