Sobre dos obras, un Cristo atado a la columna y un Ecce Homo, atribuidas a Luis de Morales procedentes de la villa de Alba de Tormes (Salamanca)

Abstract

Integrated today in the Permanent Exhibition of the Diocesan Museum of Salamanca, where they arrived from the parish house of Alba de Tormes. We know nothing about the origin of the panel of Christ bound to the column and the slate of the Ecce Homo that we present in this work; one of medium size and the other small. Both responding to the same format, a sesquialtera, that is, a harmonious rectangle with a 2/3 proportion, which achieves its virtue and beauty precisely in its simplicity and brevity. Based on the scientific analysis carried out on both works —support, preliminary drawing, pictorial layer, and protection— and comparing the results obtained with those of the restorations carried out in the Technical Cabinet of the Prado Museum on the exhibition El Divino Morales (2015-2016). We consider that they can be attributed to Luis de Morales. From a thematic point of view, the two passages from the Passion cycle of Christ chosen for these works are part of the most characteristic and repeated religious repertoire of the Extremaduran painter, so much that they ended up becoming distinctive themes of his artistic production, with many works leaving his workshop. Furthermore, taking into account the artistic and stylistic study carried out, we suggest that both works can be dated to the 1560s, undoubtedly the painter’s peak production period, during which the collaboration of his workshop was also fundamental.