Corpus Christ, Indo-Portuguese polychrome wood, circa 1660–1700

“Corpus of Christ (Indo-Portuguese, circa 1660-1700)“ - Corpus du Christ (Indo-Portuguese, circa 1660-1700).
Corpus of Christ in polychrome wood.
Goa, Indo-Portuguese, late 17th century.
Carved jackfruit wood, gesso and bowl preparation, original polychromy.
Height from head to feet: 42 cm , width between hands 38 cm.
Condition: structurally sound, with devotional wear, old polychromy with occasional retouching and small losses.
Provenance : European private collection.

Description :
A rare and expressive corpus of the Indo-Portuguese Christ, carved in wood and retaining much of its original polychromy. This work embodies the fusion of European Baroque iconography and Indian craftsmanship, typical of the Jesuit workshops in Goa at the end of the 17th century.
Christ is depicted crucified, his head bent over his right shoulder in an attitude of pain and piety, his lips parted and his gaze raised to heaven. Thin streams of painted blood flow from the forehead, flank and limbs, in a stylistic tradition inherited from the Spanish and Portuguese masters of the Baroque period.
The perizoma (modesty cloth), tied on the right side, features richly sculpted drapery with dynamic folds. Traces of antique gilding remain around the knotted belt - a detail found in high-quality Indo-Portuguese pieces. The anatomy of the body - emaciated torso, prominent knees, sloping feet - reflects a realistic Iberian-inspired aesthetic, subtly adapted to local sculpting techniques.
The structure is carved from a dense tropical wood, probably jackwood, coated with gesso, red bowl (used for gilding) and natural pigments. The piece shows genuine devotional wear, old retouching and a few chips testifying to its early liturgical use.