An Italian devotional wooden sculpture from the 1600s depicting the Infant Jesus with a Heart, carved and lacquered in polychrome. The child is shown standing, with his weight slightly shifted onto his left leg. His right arm is extended outward, holding a red heart in his hand—though it could also be an apple or a pomegranate, traditional iconographic symbols associated with original sin or the Passion. His left arm is extended downward and slightly forward, with the palm of his hand facing upward. The face is characterized by gentle, childlike features, with slightly flushed cheeks. He has large, dark, wide-open eyes that look slightly upward or toward the viewer. Brown curling hair frame his face. The child’s torso is bare, revealing a soft yet well-defined anatomical rendering. The hips and legs are partially wrapped in a deep red cloth, tied at the waist on the left side. The drapery is sculpted in a three-dimensional manner, creating deep folds that lend movement to the figure. The work is made of carved and subsequently painted wood—polychrome wood.
The painted surface shows signs of aging. Small cracks, slight abrasions, and gaps in the paint application are visible, particularly on the arms, legs, and feet—features typical of ancient sculptures that attest to its authenticity and age. The big toes are missing, as are the fingers of the left hand, but the clean cut might suggest that they were likely attached to another decorative element, indicating that the sculpture was probably part of a more elaborate decorative ensemble. . The eyes are made of glass, and one of them is spun. Missing parts and old restorations are consistent with the 1600s age.
Italy, 17th century.