Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21

18th Century Carved Oak Statue Depicting St. Bartholomew

$2,900
£2,153.40
€2,529.06
CA$4,034.71
A$4,517.27
CHF 2,368.55
MX$55,813.61
NOK 29,845.21
SEK 28,172.68
DKK 18,869.91
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This tall French statue of St. Bartholomew was hand-carved from oak in the 1700’s. This depiction of St. Bartholomew is not often seen in art, except for one of the most well known renditions, which is in the Last Judgement by Michelangelo. This painting, which is just behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel was done in the early 1500s. Our Bartholomew has wavy shoulder length hair with a thick beard and mustache. This is a standard depiction of him in art, as it is presumed this is how he looked at the time of his death. He is clad in a long, flowing tunic with a low-cut collar and a cincture around the waist. Wrapped around his shoulders is a long sleeve cloak that extends down to his ankles. The fabric of both garments has folds and bunches, implying movement. St Bartholomew stands barefoot on a rectangular plinth with beveled edges. When portrayed in art, Bartholomew is typically seen holding his flayed skin, indicating that the suffering he endured is his badge of honor. The Bartholomew in our statue is holding his skin by the lower back with his right hand. Bartholomew is venerated as the patron saint of tanners (among other classes) and is almost always shown with a flaying knife in hand. Our statue probably once held such a knife in the left hand. In Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment wall fresco at the Sistine Chapel, Bartholomew is positioned next to Jesus, indicating his importance. Recent discoveries have led art experts to suggest that the face seen on the flayed skin is a portrait of Michelangelo himself. A controversial figure, some scholars believe that Bartholomew is “Nathanael” in the Bible. In the Gospel of John, Philip introduces Nathanael to Jesus, becoming one of the twelve apostles. While this is not a consensus view, it is universally accepted that Bartholomew was martyred while spreading Christianity to the Middle East. At one point, Bartholomew converted King Polymius (of Armenia or India) to Christianity, angering the king’s brother. Prince Astyages ordered that Bartholomew be flayed alive. Although this piece represents the sad story of St. Bartholomew, it is a magnificent work of sculptural art. It is an unusual example of religious statuary, and would be a wonderful additional to any serious collection of European religious carvings.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35 in (88.9 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)Depth: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1700s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Wear commensurate to age and use, with age separations and rubs. Minor losses throughout with a missing element in the left hand as well as part of the feet. Small square platform is not original.
  • Seller Location:
    Dallas, TX
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 521-71stDibs: LU906323643262

More From This Seller

View All
Small 17th Century Carved Oak Statue from France
Located in Dallas, TX
This small French statue from the 1600s depicts a person in a two- piece robe with the bottom right hand portion of the robe attached above the knee. He is standing on a small carved...
Category

Antique 17th Century French Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Small 17th Century Oak Carved Bust from France
Located in Dallas, TX
A small oak bust, dating to the 1600s, this well-carved wooden statue hails from France. Depicting an unknown religious figure, the sculpture has a deep rich brown patina, enhancing ...
Category

Antique 17th Century French Busts

Materials

Wood, Oak

Large Carved Oak Statue of a Bishop, France, 17th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
At over five feet tall, this beautiful and large carved oak statue is a life-sized interpretation of a French bishop from the 1600s. The religious leader is wearing a mitre adorned with Vitruvian waves. There is also a vertical swath of waves in the middle of the mitre that separates two spandrel-shaped panels embellished with foliate scrolls and a cabochon. Our bishop is clad in a vestment with large scrollwork and a rectangular clasp across the chest over...
Category

Antique 17th Century French Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Oak

18th Century Carved Wooden Statue from France
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique French hand carved wooden statue is of a bearded man wearing a robe tied at the waist with a long scarf draped over his shoulder...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Circa 1650 Carved Hardwood Cornucopia Statue and Candle Holder from Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
This remarkable carved wooden statue is approximately 380 years old and was carved from Italian Rovere or Durmast wood. This is a variety of European oak known for its tough and heav...
Category

Antique Mid-17th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Oak

Wonderful 17th Century Oak Statue of Saint Florian, Patron Saint of Firefighters
Located in Dallas, TX
St. Florian (250 A.D. – 304 A.D.), was the patron saint of firefighters, brewers, chimney sweeps, and the town of Linz Austria. He served in the Roman army and part of his duties included organizing fire fighting brigades. He was secretly a Christian and became famous for miraculously saving a town from being destroyed by fire; after he prayed and threw a single bucket of water on the blaze, it was extinguished. This beautifully carved oak statue from the 1600s, clearly depicts St. Florian with a bucket in hand and a miniature house...
Category

Antique 17th Century French Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Oak

You May Also Like

17th Century German Carved Oak Religious Sculpture
Located in Bradenton, FL
17th Century German hand-carved oak religious sculpture. Possibly a saint or a bishop. The bearded man is cloaked in draped fabric with only left ...
Category

Antique 17th Century German Gothic Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Oak

15th Century Carved Wood Depicting Saint James
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
The Saint depicted here is Saint James the Great. James is the brother of St. John the Evangelist. Nothing is known of his activities after the Ascension...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Oak

Large Antique French 17th Century Carved Walnut Saint Peter Santos Figure Statue
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & large antique 17th Century French carved walnut statue of Saint Peter, circa 1680. The statue is finely carved from walnut and depicts Saint Peter holding a bible in his ha...
Category

Antique 1680s French Baroque Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Russian Carved Oak Figure of a Saint
Located in Stamford, CT
A very interesting Baroque period carved oak figure of a saint or prophet said to come from a demolished Russian Orthodox church. This compelling figure is ...
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Russian Baroque Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Oak

Carved Oak Sculpture Representing Saint Louis de Gonzague, 18th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Carved oak sculpture representing Saint Louis de Gonzague, 18th century. An 18th century Italian carving of Saint Louis de Gonzague in carved oak...
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Louis XV Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Oak

Important Sculpture of Saint James in Polychromed Oak – 18th century
Located in HÉRIC, FR
Important oak sculpture depicting James, son of Zebedee, commonly known as Saint James, brother of John, both among the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Legend has it that James went...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood