'CONSAGRADA IMAGEN DE JESUS NAZARENO' OF SONSONATE A XYLOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE WOODEN SCULPTURE SUPPORT

The study of the wooden statue, representing the 'Imagen Consagrada de Jesus Nazareno' from Sonsonate (El Salvador), marks the importance of the xylologic analysis, at a macroscopically as well as microscopically level, in determining the botanical species used for the realization of works of art. The statue under examination is made of wood and it was created for a religious purpose; therefore it is a religious object of historical ethno-anthropological interest (the sculpture dates back between the 17th and 18th centuries). Some documental sources place the statue in a European area, specifically Italy. The identification of the botanical species allows for some conjectures on the actual origin. The samples were taken from eleven elements of the artwork and, in a first approach, they were studied macroscopically. The samples were taken in such a way that neither the aspect nor the structure was affected in any way. The purpose of this study is to conduct further examination by observing details and enhancing the xylologic analysis microscopically from what remained of the original samples. This was done so as to confirm the geographical area of the species used for the work due to the fact that the origin of the sculpture is still today being debated.