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26
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- Standing priest face intensely directed towards the sky
Te…
See original version (French)
26
-
- Standing priest face intensely directed towards the sky
Te…
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,800 - €2,200
Voluntary lot
Description
- Standing priest
face intensely directed towards the sky
Terracotta with traces of polychromy, broken and glued, slight filling not exceeding 3% of the overall mass of the work
Veracruz, Mexico
450 - 900 AD
40 x 20 cm
Thermoluminescence analysis by the Kotalla laboratory, 2 May 1991
Provenance: Gaïa sale, Paris, 13 June 2007, lot no. 257
This figure represents a standing priest or dignitary, treated in a strong vertical dynamic. The face, raised to the sky with a particularly intense expression, expresses an appeal to invisible forces or divine powers during a ceremony. The half-open mouth, the gaze stretched towards the beyond and the hieratic rigidity of the body all contribute to this impression of sacred invocation.
The rich ornamentation, including an imposing circular pendant worn on the chest, signals the figure's high rank in society. These ornaments, associated with the ceremonial functions of the priests and dignitaries of classical Veracruz, bear witness to a status linked to rites, exchanges with divinities and probably agrarian or propitiatory ceremonies.
The work is characterised by the expressive power of the face and the balance between stylisation and naturalism. The almost architectural verticality of the body reinforces the spiritual tension of the scene, giving this sculpture a strong, timeless presence.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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