Carved oak Saint Paul with traces of polychromy, rough back. - Lot 40

Carved oak Saint Paul with traces of polychromy, rough back. Standing, he holds the sword of his martyrdom in his right hand, and a sack containing a book in his left; elongated face with frowning eyebrows and half-open mouth, with an open forehead topped by a toupee composed of two curls of hair, and a long beard falling in symmetrical locks with strong waves; he is dressed in a tunic and a coat with broken folds, one flap of which returns to the front. Limbourg, Master of the Long Figures, circa 1520 H. 166 cm - W. 48 cm - D. 26 cm (sword tip missing) As defined in the catalog of the 1990 exhibition on sculpture from Limburg and its borders, the "considerably elongated proportions" of this St. Paul, as well as the treatment of the hair in rounded curls and the beard with its strong waves, are all characteristics that enable it to be linked to an anonymous Master of the Long Figures. Very little is known about this artist, whose style is directly inspired by that of the Master of Elsloo, who left his mark on Dutch Limbourg statuary. However, the workshop of this anonymous master was probably located in Flemish Limburg, as attested by numerous sculptures from churches in the Maaseik and Hechtel (Belgium) regions. Works consulted: - C. Ceulemans, R. Didier & J. Gerits, Laat-gotische beelsnijkunst uit Limburg en Grensland, Saint-Trond, 1990, cat. 28 and 29, inv. 240, Afb. 5, p. I.8 and II.21.