Saint Richard

The sculpture of St Richard is a finely crafted work of sacred art, typical of the renowned Val Gardena handicraft tradition. This statue, skilfully carved from the precious maple wood, embodies the excellence of woodworking for which the region is world-famous. The artist has skilfully modelled maple, a wood prized for its fine grain and strength, to create a three-dimensional representation of the saint. The choice of this material allows the details of the face and sacred vestments to be captured with extreme delicacy, thanks to its compact and uniform structure. The figure of Saint Richard emerges with grace and dignity from the maple block, conveying a sense of serenity and devotion. The natural light tone of the maple wood provides a perfect basis for the subsequent application of colours. After the meticulous carving phase, the sculpture was embellished with a refined polychrome decoration using oil colours. This technique gives the statue a special lustre and a chromatic depth that enhances the volumes and shapes carved in the maple. The oil colours allow for rich and lasting shades, giving the work a vivid and realistic appearance. This sculpture of St. Richard is not only an object of devotion, but also a testimony to the high artistic level achieved by the artisans of Val Gardena, capable of blending the centuries-old tradition of maple carving with a modern aesthetic sensitivity in creations of extraordinary beauty.