Neapolitan school; 18th century. "Saint Raphael". Carved and polychrome wood. It has vitreo paste eyes. There are faults in the carving and polychromy. It has repainting. Measurements: 39 x 25 x 20 cm. In spite of the lack of attributes such as the fish or the cane, the presence of the shells on the upper part of the mantle carried by this angel indicates that it is a representation of Saint Raphael. The work stands out for the great dynamism achieved by the author, through the arrangement of the figure, the pronounced folds of the garment and the volume of both the hair and the feathers that make up the wings of this devotional sculpture. Saint Raphael is one of the seven archangels who stands before the throne of God. He is known as the healing archangel, becae of his divine intervention with the character Tobias, whom he healed of blindness. He is often depicted with a fishing rod, next to a fish or with the pilgrims' staff, an attribute that identifies him as the patron saint of travellers since, with his help, he guides spiritual journeys in the search for truth and knowledge. Given the importance given to religio images in the Hispanic world, during the 17th and 18th centuries ambitio pictorial series and extensive iconographic programmes were created for churches and convents, as well as printed prints, medals and reliquaries for private devotion. As a whole, regardless of their size or medium, these images fulfilled the aim of sacralising everyday life beyond the altars. The Neapolitan school of the early 18th century, heir to the Baroque tradition of the 17th century, was the most important during this period, receiving and developing the stylistic patterns of the Baroque. The Neapolitan school of the 17th century enjoyed a spectacular development, leaving behind the splendour of the previo century and progressing within a fully Baroque and clearly identifiable style. It is characterised by an interest in movement and vibrant colours. Neapolitan Baroque sculpture shows a marked taste for naturalism, a trend to which this sculpture belongs.Dimensions: 39 x 25 x 20 cm.