Lot 1813 Dα

Austria circa 1500

Two Austrian carved limewood busts of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, circa 1500

Carved in the round, the backs slightly opened and deeply hollowed out. Joseph with extensive original polychromy, Nicodemus with Baroque polychromy.. Two originally full-figure depictions of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea from an entombment group, subsequently shortened to busts. The two men are mentioned in the New Testament as having carried Christ to the grave and are here depicted with individualised features, exotic facial hair and fantastic "Oriental" headdresses - Nicodemus wears a turban and Joseph wears a floral patterned headscarf. The figures would originally have stood at the head and foot ends of a sarcophagus in which they would have lain the body of Christ.
Joseph's headdress with additions to the reverse. With minimal wear. 43 x 43 x 27 cm (Joseph), 40 x 45 x 25 cm (Nicodemus).