17th Century Baroque Flemish Wooden Corpus of Christ

In the private chapels and rural oratories of the 17th-century Low Countries, faith was not merely observed—it was felt. This primitive Flemish Baroque wooden corpus of Christ is a hauntingly beautiful survivor of that era, capturing the profound transition between the physical and the divine. Carved with a deliberate, rugged naturalism, it eschews the polished artifice of the city for a raw, visceral connection to the Counter-Reformation spirit.

The craftsmanship reveals a mastery of anatomical pathos. The tension in the outstretched arms and the rhythmic carving of the perizoma (loincloth) demonstrate the Flemish tradition of "humanizing the sacred." To touch the surface is to connect with centuries of candle-smoke patina and devotional touch. The wood has aged into a deep, tonal richness that serves as a sculptural anchor, bringing a sense of "The Measured Life" and intellectual depth to a modern library or private gallery.

For the interior designer or cultural collector, this corpus represents more than religious art; it is a historical document. It speaks of the Lineage of the Room, providing an anchor of authenticity that balances contemporary minimalism with the weight of European history. It is a piece for the steward who understands that true luxury lies in the integrity of the object.

Specifications:

Origin: Flanders (Modern-day Belgium/Northern France)

Period: 17th Century (ca. 1640–1680)

Style: Flemish Baroque / Primitive Devotional Art

Material: Hand-carved solid wood (likely Oak or Fruitwood) with remnants of original polychrome.

Dimensions: 22.75 (h) x 18.5 (w) x 10 (d) in.

Condition: 20th century restorations have been introduced, inclusive of a replacement to the upper left bicep of Christ’s proper left arm and the entire proper right arm being altogether replaced up to the antique join. A further restoration may have been introduced to the reverse of the sculpture, along the proper left calf of Christ. Such restorations are not uncommon in an attempt to preserve historic artifacts within churches and institutions.  The remaining artwork is in a condition commensurate with age with various dings, scratches, minor chips or losses and old worming, particularly present along the verso of the sculpture where moisture would have accumulated when mounted to an old wooden cross or against a church wall. 

Delivery: Complimentary shipping within the USA is included in price. Ships from our storage facility in Belgium.  Please allow 2-to-4 weeks for arrival.

Historian’s Note:

During the 17th century, the Southern Netherlands remained a bastion of Catholicism amidst the Protestant North. This led to a flourishing of Baroque liturgical art that emphasized the "suffering of the flesh" to inspire empathy in the viewer. Unlike the grand, theatrical works of Rubens found in Antwerp’s cathedrals, "primitive" carvings like this corpus were often created for local guilds or private nobility. They represent a more intimate, tactile expression of the Counter-Reformation. The exaggerated musculature and the tilt of the head are hallmarks of Flemish verism, an artistic movement that sought to find the divine within the humble reality of the human form.