AN ITALIAN WOOD SAINT BARTHOLOMEW 17TH – 18TH CENTURY |

powerfully carved in the form of Saint Bartholomew with the left elbow bent and grasping in his hand a billowing strip of his own skin wrapping around his body and suspending a bearded mask by his left hip, the martyr rendered stripped bare with his pronounced collar bones, ribs and muscles portrayed in minute detail, stands

As visible in the catalogue photo, there are losses to the fragmentary sculpture, including the proper right leg, the proper left ankle and foot, the proper right forearm, the drapery at the top and the drapery on the proper right side of the figure. The proper left hand and forearm have been reattached and some glue residue is visible. There is a further possible reattachment to the drapery at the height of the proper left hip. There are also typical age splits and past worming to the wood, the latter with minor associated losses to the edges of the drapery.
"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."

In this sculpture, Saint Bartholomew is depicted holding his own face and skin. This manner of depicting the Saint was first introduced in the European Middle Ages, and gained popularity from the 13th century onwards. Saint Bartholomew was believed to have been skinned alive and then beheaded, and thus became a Christian Martyr. Because of the manner of his death, Saint Bartholomew also became the patron saint of tanners and leatherworkers. It is likely that the missing right hand of this sculpture would have held a knife, which is another of Saint Bartholomew's usual attributes. The present sculpture also calls to mind the écorché figures which gained currency during the 18th century, such as the famous Flayed Man by Jean-Antoine Houdon (1767) and the Spellati which decorate the Anatomical theatre of the Archiginnasio in Bologna, carved by Ercole Lelli (1733-1736).