Early 19th Century Flemish Hand-Carved Oak Statue of Saint Agnes, Circa 1820

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Early 19th-century Flemish hand-carved statue of Saint Agnes, dating to circa 1820 and carved from a single solid piece of … Read more Early 19th-century Flemish hand-carved statue of Saint Agnes, dating to circa 1820 and carved from a single solid piece of old-growth oak. The sculpture depicts Saint Agnes standing in flowing robes and holding the traditional symbols associated with her: a lamb and a palm branch.

Saint Agnes was a young Christian virgin and martyr from ancient Rome. In Christian art, she is commonly represented with a lamb, associated with her purity and the similarity between her name and the Latin word agnus, meaning lamb. The palm branch is a traditional symbol of martyrdom and victory over death.

The sculpture is particularly compelling for its hand-carved construction and the character of the old-growth oak. The solid timber can be observed from the reverse, including a natural area where a branch once extended from the tree, highlighting the organic character of the wood selected by the original carver.

A striking example of early 19th-century Flemish religious sculpture, with expressive carving, natural wood character, and rich devotional history. See less