17th century painted carved wood Oratory

Beautiful and rare oratory with pediment, in painted and polychrome wood from the 17th century

The scourging scene : probably an older element, used during the creation of the piece of furniture in the 17th century
The Christ in the center of the scene, surrounded by two Roman centurions, looks directly at the viewer.

The artist shows great technique in this scene.
By positioning the two centurions slightly upside down, arms in the air with their whips, he succeeds in giving movement to the scene.

Underneath is a decorative frieze composed of fruits, including a pear.

The pear is another symbol: of the vanity of pride, of stupidity (that we can attribute to the Romans) but also the representation of brutality and torture.

It opens with a flap allowing to position a book when it is folded down and a door in the lower part.