Featuring new photography，this book reappraises the unique form of Spanish painted wooden sculpture.In addition to examining the sculptures' religious roles，it also explores the unique creative relationship of sculptor and painter: Velazquez's teacher and father-in-law Francisco Pacheco，for example，often painted the flesh and drapery of wood carvings by the celebrated sculptor Juan Martinez Monta?ès，and taught a generation of students.The skill of painting these hyper-realistic sculptures was an integral part of an artist's training，enhancing his sensitivity to visual impact and physical presence—evident in paintings of the period.

This book is the first publication in English to reappraise the Spanish art form of painted wooden sculpture of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and its relationship with painting of the period.Touching on artistic tradition，religious observance and the perceived boundaries between illusion and reality in a specifically Spanish context，it explains how sculptors and painters combined their skills to depict，with astonishing realism，the great Christian themes.Wooden sculptures of the saints，the Immaculate Conception and the Passion of Christ were painstakingly carved，gessoed and intricately painted，even embellished with glass eyes and tears and ivory teeth.Sometimes shockingly graphic in their depiction of Christ's sufferings，or beautifully clothed，as if brought to life，these were objects of divine inspiration to the faithful，whether on altars，or carried through the streets on holy days.

Painter and sculptor worked together in a unique relationship.Velazquez's teacher and father-in-law，Francisco Pacheco，often painted the flesh and drapery of wood carvings by the celebrated sculptor Juan Martinez Montafies; he also taught a generation of students.The skill of painting these hyper-realistic sculptures was an integral part of an artist'straining，enhancing his sensitivity to visual impact and physical presence-evident in paintings of the period.The technical challenges involved in making polychrome sculptures，and the artists' ingenious solutions，are described，explained and illustrated.

Superb photography，specially commissioned for this book，illustrates polychrome sculptures by Gregorio Fernandez，Juan de Mesa，Juan Martinez Montafies，Alonso Cano and Pedro de Mena，together with paintings by Pacheco，Ribera，Velazquez and Zurbaran.

Sponsor's foreword

Directors'foreword

Acknowledgements

Map of modern spain

The Sacred Made Real：Spanish Painting and Sculpture 1600-1700

The Art of Devotion：Seventeenth-Century Spanish Painting and Sculpture in its Religious Context

The Making of a Seventeenth-Century Spanish Polychrome Sculpture

CATALOGUE

 Introductions by Xayier Bray

 The Art of Painting Sculpture：The Quest for Reality

 The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception

 A True Likeness：Portraits

 The Passion of Christ

 Saint Francis in Meditation

 The 'Spanish Paragone'：Saint Serapion

Francisco Pacheco's Dispute with

Juan Martfnez Montanes

Biographies of the Artists

Bibliography

Index

List of lenders

Photographic credits