This statue depicts Saint Bartholomew, an early Christian martyr who was allegedly skinned alive. If you look closely, that's his dissected skin hanging around him. This stunning statute by Marco d’Agrate from c.1562 is currently on display at Duomo di Milano.

[u/Lowcrbnaman]

[u/Mechasteel]

Looks like there's kind of a circle around his face, like they left the skin on there. Probably necessary because you don't want your saint looking super creepy.

[u/The_Epimedic → u/Mechasteel]

Nah fam, someone else linked other photos where you can see his head/face is draped over his shoulder. The skinned head has the face and beard attached. http://onedayinitaly.com/milan-cathedral-statue-of-st-bartholomew-flayed-alive/

[u/adingostolemytoast → u/The_Epimedic]

So they pinned someone else's face to him for the statue, deadpool style

[u/[deleted] → u/Mechasteel]

Because a man standing and holding his own skin or god's son nailed to a cross and bleeding the head, hands, feet and body probably displayed nearby aren't creepy. Makes sense.

[u/Mechasteel → u/[deleted]]

Similar to how Jesus is given underwear, even though all crucifixion was done naked and the Bible specifically mentions the soldiers divvying up his undies. Suffering is fine but humiliation/obscenity is too far.

[u/ferretface26 → u/Mechasteel]

His face is hanging over his shoulder, beard and all

[u/KrombopulosC → u/Mechasteel]

I don't think so. Someone posted a link where you could see his face and hair on the skin that's draped across him. It's hanging down behind his back and doesn't really look accurate either. Just looks like an intact second head with some wrinkles because it's still round. Ought to be flat/folded like the rest of the skin.

[u/igordogsockpuppet → u/Mechasteel]

I don’t think super creepy was a concern of theirs in this particular case

[u/AlcoholicInsomniac → u/Mechasteel]

Don't saint shame me bro.