THE THREE WISE MEN ALTARPIECE

SUPPORT AND ELABORATION 

The altarpiece, made of slow growing oak, comprises several modules joined and assembled to one another. Those forming the central section of the altarpiece are attached to the predella using multiple dovetail joints. The compartment containing the group of figures comprises a large number of pieces: five panels to the rear with bas-reliefs, two converging side panels, overlapped mouldings, blocks of wood to complete volumes, large wooden chocks and five figures much larger than normal. In turn, the figures are mainly made up of a main piece of wood to which other, smaller-sized fragments were attached to form a variable number (always five at least) of different protruding elements such as elbows, arms, edges of garments, toes of slippers and feet, etc..

The rears of the non-hollowed-out figures are smooth. The wood used for the figure of St. Joseph has been stamped with signs made by a dowel. The figures show marks made by different woodcarver's tools, in addition to signs of having been planed in order to fit them into the architecture of the frame. The figures are not assembled, but simply placed in position on different ascending levels.