Encarnación (sculpting)

A sculpting technique employed by the Spanish artist Juan Martínez Montañés in the 17th century (Baroque Period). It is used to create life-like sculptures, hence the name (which translates to English as incarnation), which after carving and drying for 6 months are painted, varnished and sanded. These steps are repeated several times until a life-like glow is achieved.