The Virgin and Child thumbnail 1
The Virgin and Child thumbnail 2
+2
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

The Virgin and Child

Relief
third quarter 15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a panel relief in purple-veined white marble, made in the third quarter of the 15th century in Florence. This relief, representing the Virgin and Child, is in the style of Desiderio da Settignano (1428-1464). This popular composition is recorded in a number of reliefs in pigmented stucco and in paintings from the workshop of Neri di Bicci (1419-1491). The relationship between the marble and the stuccos is problematic. The measurements of an example in the museum in Berlin-Dahlem agree closely enough to this relief to suggest that the stucco is a squeeze (or cast) from it.
Desiderio da Settignano, (Desiderio de Bartolomeo di Francesco detto Ferro (c. 1428 or 1430 – 1464) was an Italian sculptor active during the Renaissance. He came from a family of stone carvers and stonemasons. His work is influenced by Donatello, but very likley he was trained in the large Florentine workshop run by Bernardo and Antonio Rossellino.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Virgin and Child (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Purple-veined white marble panel in wooden frame with figures sculptured in low relief
Brief description
Panel relief, marble in wooden frame, the Virgin and Child, in the style of Desiderio da Settignano, Florentine, third quarter of the 15th century
Physical description
Relief in purple-veined white marble. The Virgin is represented seated in half-length turned to the right. Her head is in three-quarter face, and her hands are clasped in prayer. Her robe is decorated on the wrists and chest with embroidered putti, and at the neck with a foliated design. The cloak has a foliated border. The Child, seated in left profile on a tasselled cushion on the right of the relief, places his left hand on the Virgin's wrist and with his right holds up her veil. The figures are set against a background of cloudy sky. At the upper corners are two winged cherub heads. The relief is recessed inside a moulded frame.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41.4cm
  • Width: 34.3cm
Object history
Bought in 1866.
Production
In the style of Desiderio da Settignano. Made in the third quarter of the 15th century
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a panel relief in purple-veined white marble, made in the third quarter of the 15th century in Florence. This relief, representing the Virgin and Child, is in the style of Desiderio da Settignano (1428-1464). This popular composition is recorded in a number of reliefs in pigmented stucco and in paintings from the workshop of Neri di Bicci (1419-1491). The relationship between the marble and the stuccos is problematic. The measurements of an example in the museum in Berlin-Dahlem agree closely enough to this relief to suggest that the stucco is a squeeze (or cast) from it.
Desiderio da Settignano, (Desiderio de Bartolomeo di Francesco detto Ferro (c. 1428 or 1430 – 1464) was an Italian sculptor active during the Renaissance. He came from a family of stone carvers and stonemasons. His work is influenced by Donatello, but very likley he was trained in the large Florentine workshop run by Bernardo and Antonio Rossellino.
Bibliographic references
  • Kecks, Ronald G. Madonna und Kind: das häusliche Andachtsbild im Florenz des 15. Jahrhunderts. Berlin: Mann, 1988, p. 43, 70f, 101, 143, pl. 106
  • Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1866. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 23
  • Raggio, Olga. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Art Bulletin. 1968, vol. L, pp. 101
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume I: Text, Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: HMSO, 1964, pp. 142-143
  • Natale, Mauro. and Ritschard, Claude. L'art d'imiter : images de la Renaissance italienne au Musée d'Art et d'Histoire : falsifications, manipulations, pastiches. Genève : Ville de Genève, Département des Affaires Culturelles, 1997, pp. 152-155
  • Zsuzsa, Ulbach. A Desiderio da Settignano-Copy in the Collection of the Matthias Church. Különlenyomat a Müvészettörtéeti Érbesítö. 2005, L LV. 1-2, Számából, pp. 81-85
  • Bormand, Marc and Paolozzi, Beatrice and Penny, Nicholas. eds. Desiderio da Settignano: Sculptor of Renaissance Florence. Washington: 2007, pp. 37, 199. Catalogue of the exhibitions held Musée du Louvre, Paris, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence and National Gallery of Art, Washington.
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. London, 1932, p. 41
Collection
Accession number
66-1866

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMay 13, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest