Giovanni Antonio Gualterio (active 1582-1600) Italian, Rome, 1585

monogrammed and dated: GAG 1585

Overall the condition of the ivory is good with some wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. The arms and a part of the loincloth are carved separately, and joints are visible. Two ivory pins hold the separate part of the loincloth in place, and some residue of a paste is visible in the joint of the proper right arm. There is some minor splitting consistent with the material, including to Christ's proper right leg, the underside of both his arms, and to his back. The root canal of the tusk runs from between the shoulder blades to the outside of the proper left ankle; there are holes at the start and the end of this, and a narrow area of slightly mottled ivory down the spine. There is some discolouration of the ivory to the reverse of the figure. There are holes for mounting in Christ's hands and feet and to the back of his head.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present corpus forms part of a group of ivory corpora signed by Giovanni Antonio Gualterio, who produced works for a distinguished Roman clientèle that included then-Cardinal Ferdinando de'Medici. A strikingly similar Cristo Vivo, apparently dated 1614, was recorded in a Spanish private collection in 1975 (Estella Marcos, op. cit., figs 9 and 10). The haunting gaze and open mouth of the figure highlight the demand for heightened realism in Roman religious sculpture following the Council of Trent.

RELATED LITERATURE
M.M. Estella Marcos, 'Un Cristo de marfil de Gualterius y otros dos ejemplares del maestro de la sigla JAG', Archivo español de arte, 1975, no. 48, pp. 133-136; E.D. Schmidt, 'Christ in the Counter Reformation. A signed and dated ivory by Giovanni Antonio Gualterio', Storia dell'arte, 2008, 118, no. 19, pp. 5-20