Spanish school; late 18th century."Christ on the column".Carved wood, gilded and polychromed.Measurements: 46 cm (figure) 60 x 26 x 22 cm (total).In this round sculpture Christ is represented being tied to a low column, an episode belonging to the cycle of the Passion. It is a highly dramatic but non-narrative theme, designed to encourage the faithful to be moved by Christ's physical suffering and to admire his acceptance of the misfortunes he must suffer in order to redeem mankind. The scene takes place in the Praetorium in Jerusalem, the centre of Roman power, where Christ has arrived for the second and last time, after passing through various stages. He is exhibited before the crowd ("Ecce Homo"), who preferred to release Barabbas rather than him and, either before or after this exhibition, he is stripped of his clothes and tied to a pillar, where he is subjected to mockery concerning his alleged crime, being "king of the Jews", and torture, including scourging and the crowning with thorns.