Flemish school; 16th century. "The Virgin" and "Saint John". Carved wood. It presents visible faults in the image. Measurements: 81 x 28 x 13 cm (x2). Pair of devotional images of half a bulk, only roughed in the back part, representing the Virgin and Saint John that would be thought to be placed at the foot of the cross, which would complete the sculptural group. They are clearly classical figures, monumental thanks to the wide folds of their garments. The Crucifixion with the Virgin and Saint John at the foot of the cross is an iconographic form evolved from the original Byzantine Déesis, which depicted Christ in Majesty accompanied by Mary and Saint John the Baptist. In Western art, the depiction of Christ on the cross was preferred as a narrative scene, and the figure of John the Baptist was replaced by that of John the Evangelist. The introduction of the Italian Renaissance into the Low Countries was slow and difficult because it was up against a strong indigenous art of the highest standard and great tradition. Thus, the acceptance of the new Italian style was late, and the Gothic decorations remained in place for a long time. Nevertheless, there were Flemish artists who travelled to Italy and returned, becoming "Italianists", spreading the new style. This was particularly true of the Academy of Haarlem and the school of Mechelen, important centres of the new trend. There, everything was done in the Italian manner, and there was even a Dutch Vasari, Carel Van Mander, who in 1604 published biographies of the illustrious painters of his country. Dimensions 81 x 28 x 13 cm (x2).