El Niño Jesús (Baby Jesus)
Guatemala, Spanish Colonial Period (17th–18th century)
Wood, gesso, polychrome, and glass eyes

This expressive sculpture of the Christ Child was crafted in colonial Guatemala, where Spanish and indigenous traditions intertwined. Carved from wood and layered with gesso, the figure was richly polychromed to create lifelike skin tones and details. Inset glass eyes lend the figure a soulful, vivid gaze, enhancing its devotional impact. Originally clothed in fine textiles, El Niño would have been a centerpiece in religious ceremonies and nativity displays, embodying both the innocence and divine majesty of the infant Jesus. He has all of his fingers and toes intact. His lips are a a sweet tone of pink and his hair is beautifully carved. He measures 11.5x7x15H

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