El retablo del Santo Cristo del Desamparo de Escurial (Cáceres). Una nueva obra del maestro trujillano Bartolomé Jerez

The study of the Altarpiece of the Holy Christ of Desamparo in Escurial (Cáceres) attributes its authorship to the Trujillo master Bartolomé Jerez, active during the first half of the eighteenth century, and examines both the architectural design of the altarpiece and its relationship with the sculpture of the Crucified Christ. The research underlines the importance of Jerez’s workshop, one of the few centers in Cáceres capable of competing with major carving workshops in Extremadura and Castile. Unpublished documentary sources from parish and confraternity account books confirm the commission, financing, and completion of the altarpiece between 1731 and 1735, including detailed costs, materials, and patrons. The formal analysis describes a structure consisting of a base, a single tier, and an attic, featuring a central niche flanked by Solomonic columns and an iconographic program centered on Passion symbols. The study also highlights the interaction between sculpture and altarpiece, as well as later adjustments that altered the placement of the images within the church. This article makes a decisive contribution to the cataloguing of Bartolomé Jerez’s oeuvre and to understanding Late Baroque art in Extremadura, positioning Escurial as a significant center in the circulation of artistic forms and workshops during the eighteenth century.