Christ from 1147

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Christ is a 1147 sculpture of Christ made in 1147 and now part of the permanent collection at the National Art Museum of Catalonia. It originates from an unknown church within the diocese of Urgell, likely located in Andorra. Inside this wooden Romanesque sculpture in Catalonia stands out as an exceptional piece due to its precise dating capability, a feat achieved only by two works. A restoration conducted in 1952 revealed a cavity behind Christ's figure, containing several relics wrapped in fabric and hispanomusulmán scrolls. One scroll bore an inscription stating the consecration date of the work in 1147, giving the sculpture its name. Another scroll referred to the recognition of the relics in 1521, demonstrating its continued use beyond the Middle Ages and a remodeling at that time. This piece is valuable for dating similar works and serves as a reminder that some images were also used as reliquaries. Unlike Majesties or triumphant Christ figures, Christ from 1147 exemplifies the suffering Christ (Christus Patiens), depicted without a shirt, wearing only a faldonet or perizonium, and with arms slightly bent. Although it refers to Christ's redeeming death, this sculpture focuses more on his suffering as a man. The hardness of Christ's facial expression highlights this aspect, along with the detailed anatomy approach. However, since the work has lost almost all its polychrome, its original appearance differed significantly from today's. The Catalan region features many examples of this type, such as the Roman general. Notable antecedents include Gero Christ, preserved in Cologne (Germany) and dated between 960 and 980.