RELIEF OF THE DESCENT FROM THE CROSS

OBSERVATIONS 

Though this work was first thought to date from the beginning of the XVI century, Professor Ara Gil proposed changing its date of manufacture to the year 1440. Basing her findings on the treatment of folds of garments, she suggested it had been manufactured in Brussels, which was the most active source at that particular period.

Additional emphasis must be given to the similarities between the faces of Nicodemus and Saint Joseph and figures made by Van der Weyden, a painter who had considerable influence on Brussels woodcarving. Both figures have triangular-shaped faces and dramatic, but contained expressions. Likewise, they both have straight noses, long, not particularly curved eyebrows and wide, straight mouths with slightly downturned corners. The former has a long beard of wavy locks, while the curly mane of the Apostle falls almost to his neck.