Luisa Roldán,Spanish,The Entombment of Christ,1701-02,polychrome terracotta
Two laborers supporting the tomb cover bear witness to a scene of devotion of the lifeless Christ.Saints John and Mary Magdalene,behind the tomb,express shock and grief,while Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea,at either side,lovingly support the body on a shroud.The expressive intensity,compositional complexity,and large size of this sculpture compared to the other statuette groups by Roldán,two of which are on display in this gallery,are matched to its purpose.The artist made the Entombment as a gift to the new king of Spain,Philip V,to demonstrate her abilities to conceive and execute sculpture at the highest level. It was part of Roldana's ultimately successful petition for reappointment'"as royal sculptor Esculroea de Cámara
Luisa Roldán,Spanish,The Entombment of Christ,1701-02,polychrome terracotta
Two laborers supporting the tomb cover bear witness to a scene of devotion of the lifeless Christ.Saints John and Mary Magdalene,behind the tomb,express shock and grief,while Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea,at either side,lovingly support the body on a shroud.The expressive intensity,compositional complexity,and large size of this sculpture compared to the other statuette groups by Roldán,two of which are on display in this gallery,are matched to its purpose.The artist made the Entombment as a gift to the new king of Spain,Philip V,to demonstrate her abilities to conceive and execute sculpture at the highest level. It was part of Roldana's ultimately successful petition for reappointment'"as royal sculptor Esculroea de Cámara