57 - A follower of GREGORIO FERNÁNDEZ (Lugo, 1576 – Valladolid, 1636).

A follower of GREGORIO FERNÁNDEZ (Lugo, 1576 – Valladolid, 1636). “Reclining Christ.” Polychrome clay. Shows signs of wear. Measurements: 22 x 7 x 8 cm. This sculpture depicts the dead Christ, lying after the Passion, following the iconographic tradition of the Recumbent Christ, which was widely developed in Castilian sculpture during the transition from the 16th to the 17th century. The work falls within the aesthetic sphere of Gregorio Fernández, whose body of work was instrumental in shaping this iconographic model and in the development of Spanish Baroque imagery. The figure exhibits a pronounced horizontal orientation, with the body yielding to the weight of death and the arms arranged in a position of absolute inertia. Particularly noteworthy are the treatment of the head and the arrangement of the shroud, whose folds—executed with remarkable attention to detail—frame the torso and partially reveal the chest area, where the wound from the spear is visible. The polychromy helps reinforce the image’s devotional dimension and the representation of the body as a physical testament to the sacrifice. Its predominantly frontal composition, together with the treatment of the arrangement, suggests a role as part of a larger sculptural ensemble or devotional display, designed to be viewed from a specific vantage point. Gregorio Fernández was one of the leading figures in early Baroque Spanish sculpture. Based in Valladolid, he developed a style characterized by anatomical naturalism, expressive intensity, and meticulous rendering of drapery—elements that took on special significance in his depictions of the Passion. His models, disseminated both through his workshop and by the numerous sculptors associated with his circle, exerted a profound influence on 17th-century Castilian religious imagery. This piece bears witness to the enduring legacy of these sculptural models and their adaptation to devotional formats. He has committed fouls.