St. Augustine Magnificent carved, gilded and

St. Augustine Magnificent carved, gilded and polychromed wooden sculpture. Transition between the Romanesque and the Gothic. Circa 1300
The saint is facing forwards, dressed as a Bishop in episcopal vestments and with a mitre decorated with sculpted stones on his head. He is giving blessing, whilst holding a staff in his left hand. The magnificent quality of polychrome on the skin tones and vestments is outstanding, they are chromatically very rich. It is also worth mentioning the indisputable mastery of the sculptor, which can be observed in the treatment of the folds and the complicated sides of the clothing, and especially in the magnificent face with its fine features and unruly beard. One curious detail to point out is the staff, which instead of being free-standing, which is more usual, actually forms part of the body of the sculpture. The saint´s face has a mysterious expression, a mix of severity with the suggestion of a smile. In this way the sculptor manages to convey spirituality and humanity at the same time. This is undoubtedly a masterpiece of medieval imagery.
Height: 75 cm.