Carved Oak Statue of a Church Father, 16th century - Lot 64

Carved Oak Statue of a Church Father, 16th century An oak sculpture depicting a Church Father or a holy bishop, wearing a richly ornamented miter and liturgical vestments. The figure holds a closed book in his left hand, while his right hand—now missing—originally held an attribute that has since been lost. The rendering of the face, the deep folds of the drapery, and the decorative borders of the cloak are in keeping with the tradition of late Gothic sculpture of the 16th century. The back is hollowed out and flat, indicating that it was intended for an altarpiece, a niche, or a church setting. Carved from a single piece of oak, with relief cuts, signs of wear, and small missing sections, particularly on the right hand and at the base. Details: Period: 16th century – Material: carved oak – Height: 63 cm – Weight: 4,250 g. Note: Identification as a Church Father is plausible but cannot be confirmed with certainty based solely on the photographs. The absence of the attribute held in the right hand precludes a precise attribution (St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Gregory, or St. Jerome). The designation “Church Father or Holy Bishop” is therefore the most prudent identification for a catalog.