A French or German ivory figure of Christ Bound, after François Duquesnoy (1597-1643), 18th century

Michael Hall, New York

M. Boudon-Mauchel, François du Quesnoy, Paris, 2005, p. 226, no. ln.10.der.3
M. H. Schwartz (ed.), European Sculpture from the Abbott Guggenheim Collection, New York, 2008, no. 119, p. 215

Age cracks throughout, some with black dirt. Minor surface abrasions throughout. Some dirt and possibly remnants of old coloring on perizonium and hair. Minor rubbing throughout. Small hole in perizonium where it falls over proper upper right thigh. Filled surface hole at back inner right thigh. Concentric circular age cracks around base with ivory plug at center (probably core of tusk). Some stains and discoloration. Good quality.
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A 1709 print of the collection of François Girardon shows the present model, there accompanied by a column, and describes it as "le Christ de terre cuite modèle de F. Quesnoy..."  Although the terracotta does not survive, versions are known in bronze and ivory, the finest of which is an ivory recently acquired by the National Gallery in Washington (2007.67.1).  As in that example Christ is shown here without the column and thus not in a specific narrative moment but rather as a general representation of the Passion.  Duquesnoy undoubtedly found inspiration in Michelangelo's Risen Christ in the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome for the pose.