A sculpture by Juan Alonso Villabrille and Ron for the Capuchins of Madrid: San Félix de Cantalicio
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Keywords

Sculpture
baroque
century XVIII
capuchinos
Saint Felix of Cantalice
Juan Alonso Villabrille and Ron
Luis Salvador Carmona
Madrid

Abstract

This article presents an unpublished work by Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron (c. 1663-1732). It is a sculptural group made of polychrome wood that represents Saint Felix of Cantalice. The carving originally belonged to the convent of San Antonio del Prado in Madrid and today it can be seen at the closing of the monastery of the Capuchins of Salamanca. The cultural asset has lost three of its four figures and has a poor state of conservation; A series of vandalism mutilations have also been carried out during the Civil War, specifically on his hands, which make it impossible to admire the effigy in all its splendor. It also suffers from occasional losses of polychrome and generalized dirt, recommending an immediate restoration process. We do not know documentary when he was hired, but it was certainly done before September 29, 1713, because throughout that day he was carried on processional litters through the Villa and

Court of Madrid on the occasion of the canonization of the saint. The sculpture must be considered, at least in origin, as one of the most important in the artistic production of the Asturian image maker, confirming that Villabrille was a prestigious sculptor during the first third of the 18th century.

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