Virgin Mary thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Virgin Mary

Statuette
c. 1370-80 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Liège (made)

The Virgin Mary is represented crowned and enthroned with her hands joined in prayer, and together with the accompanying figure of Christ, would have formed the centre scene of an altarpiece, representing the Coronation of the Virgin. Once thought to be English, this figure more closely parallels sculptures produced in the valley of the River Meuse in present day Belgium. Originally it would have been fully painted.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Christianity
Religion
Object type
Statuette
TitleVirgin Mary (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Oak
Oak
Carved
Brief description
Statuette (one of a group of six), the Virgin Mary, carved oak, Liège, ca. 1370-1380
Physical description
Figure, carved oak, representing the Virgin Mary, crowned and enthroned, her hands joined in prayer.
Dimensions
  • Height: 33cm
  • Width: 16cm
  • Depth: 11.8cm
Credit line
Given by W. Maskell, Esq.
Object history
Given by Mr W. Maskell; formerly in the collection of A.W.N. Pugin.
Subject depicted
Virgin Mary
Summary
The Virgin Mary is represented crowned and enthroned with her hands joined in prayer, and together with the accompanying figure of Christ, would have formed the centre scene of an altarpiece, representing the Coronation of the Virgin. Once thought to be English, this figure more closely parallels sculptures produced in the valley of the River Meuse in present day Belgium. Originally it would have been fully painted.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1889. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1890. pp. 42
  • Prior and Gardner. An account of Medieval Figure-Sculpture in England. Cambridge. 1912. pp. 524. fig. 414
  • Williamson, Paul and Evelyn, Peta. Northern Gothic Sculpture 1200-1450. London. Victoria and Albert Museum. 1988. pp. 110, 117
  • Trusted, Marjorie, ed. The Making of Sculpture. The materials and techniques of European Sculpture. London. 2007. pp. 131. pl. 242
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
412-1889

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Record createdOctober 27, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O170642/virgin-mary-statuette-unknown/
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