The Infant Jesus as Divine Love: a Dressed Sculpture from Évora’s Museum.

Abstract

The «Infant Jesus as Divine Love» is a noteworthy example of the exuberance reached by dressed sculptures of the Holy Child in Portugal [1]. The provenance of this 18th century sculpture is unknown1. It may have belonged to a religious institution, before being integrated in the Public Library collection. Finally, in 1915, it was incorporated in Évora’s National Museum. It is a lead sculpture, painted with very realistic flesh tones, in consonance with an elegant shape proper of a classical and erudite workmanship. In this unusual representation the Infant is holding a silver bow, arrows and a quiver, personifying Divine Love. In the left hand he holds a flower bouquet made of silk and paper.