Is it Just Me? Unusual Sculpture of St. Joseph?

[Michael_Anthony]

in reference to the jacket, it was the custom in the Medieval period to portray people in the clothing of the artist’s period to keep the story current and relatable, so that could explain it (depending on the time the original was made, which given the artist being of the High/Late Renaissance era it is reasonable such a thing would still be done).

 

[on_the_hill]

Looks like a girl.

 

[Pattylt]

Ok, that’s kind of ummm…uncomfortable? Did he have to give it a protruding nipple, too? I have never noticed that before and assume I’ll never be able to look at this wonderful statue again without that breast jumping out at me!

 

[BlueMantle]

I have seen this photo used several times on a Catholic blog in honor of St. Joseph’s feast day. No one ever commented that it looked like a young woman’s body with St. Joseph’s head. I wondered if maybe this was found among the artist’s effects after his death and wasn’t intended to be put on display. I recognize that clothing, hair and posture has often been effeminate compared to our present day. I thought this example was more obvious a difference in face and form.

Thanks for your observations.

 

[Titivillus]

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen St Joseph imagined with a full head of hair?

 

[vsedriver]

The thought just crossed my mind “did women of the age find this kind of man attractive?”.

have you seen how the women dressed from the same time period?(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Mary888]

I too noticed the female body on St. Joseph. Maybe the author began representing some.woman and then he was commissioned St. Joseph and the body and changed the face.

 

[jrgmercado]

That was my thoughts as well…it started as something else and then changed to St Joseph. Although, based on someone else post, it appears this was the artist’s style.

 

[F_Marturana]

She reminds me of the crocheted dolls that are used to put over a roll of toilet paper. :roll_of_toilet_paper:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)