Pedro de Mena y Medrano
St. Acisclus
Circa 1680
Polychromed and gilt wood
The Hispanic Society of America, New York, LD2157
This piece has a shape often characteristic of reliquary busts. The blood on the throat refers to the saint's decapitation at the hands of the Roman governor of Cordoba. The youthful good looks may refer to the governor's exhortation to the saint that he preserve his youth and beauty rather than go to his death.
In his story Acisclus is not said to be a soldier, yet this sculpture puts him in military garb.
Read more about images of St. Acisclus.
Photographed at the Hispanic Society by Claire Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.