Lot 03

TRIUMPHANT CHRIST

The sculpture of the Triumphant Christ, also known as the Risen Christ, is a work of exceptional quality. The sculpture, which retains its original polychromy, is characterized by an ingenious design of the figure, dynamic rendering of the drapery, and intricate details. Given the absence of the hands from the elbows down, Christ was likely originally raising his right hand in a gesture of blessing while holding a flagpole in his left hand. While the iconography of the Suffering Christ is dominated by the stigmata, in this sculpture Christ is clothed—a long cloak is draped over his shoulders, fastened under his neck with a narrow sash featuring a decorative buckle. The drapery is subjectively enlivened by openwork folds, whose narrow ridges sometimes suddenly expand into more sculptural volumes. The noble expression evokes a sublime solemnity enhanced by the body’s slightly inclined posture. Through these means, Christ casts a mesmerizing gaze upon the viewer. The striking decorativism of the delicate carving is underscored by the stylization of the hair and beard, which end in two spirals. This may be evidence of the sculptor’s orientation toward the north, with specific inspiration likely drawn from Saxon sculpture, which became a powerful source of inspiration for Bohemia by the end of the 15th century. An analogy with the sculpture in question can be seen, for example, in the statue of Christ the Victorious from Slavíkovice. The sculpture on offer has been part of the permanent exhibition of old Czech art at St. George’s Monastery at Prague Castle since 1994.