Virgin and Child
Statuette
early 16th century (made)
early 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This statuette is made by an unknwo artist in the early 16th century in Germany.
The group shows the Virgin standing with the Infant Christ in her left arm. On her right is St. Catherine crowned and holding a book in her right hand and a flower in her left, which she puts out towards the Child.
It is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes and pottery.
Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which also pipe-clay figures were fired.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also called St Catherine of the Wheel or the Great Martyr Saint Catherine. She is a Christian Saint and Martyr. Her principal symbol is a spiked wheel and her feast day is 25th November by most Christian churches.
Following the Golden Legend she showed great erudition from an early age. She became queen, converted to Christianity and had a vision of marrying Christ. Maxentius, the Roman Emperor desired her and sent out 50 philosophers to try to interfere in her faith. Instead the philosophers were all converted to Christianity themselves.
The legend tells that she was to be condemned to death on a torture wheel with iron spikes, which broke, when she touched it. She was then beheaded instead. There is doubt about her historical authenticity.
The group shows the Virgin standing with the Infant Christ in her left arm. On her right is St. Catherine crowned and holding a book in her right hand and a flower in her left, which she puts out towards the Child.
It is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes and pottery.
Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which also pipe-clay figures were fired.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also called St Catherine of the Wheel or the Great Martyr Saint Catherine. She is a Christian Saint and Martyr. Her principal symbol is a spiked wheel and her feast day is 25th November by most Christian churches.
Following the Golden Legend she showed great erudition from an early age. She became queen, converted to Christianity and had a vision of marrying Christ. Maxentius, the Roman Emperor desired her and sent out 50 philosophers to try to interfere in her faith. Instead the philosophers were all converted to Christianity themselves.
The legend tells that she was to be condemned to death on a torture wheel with iron spikes, which broke, when she touched it. She was then beheaded instead. There is doubt about her historical authenticity.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Virgin and Child (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pipeclay |
| Brief description | Statuette, group, pipeclay, the Virgin and Child with St. Catherine of Alexandria, Germany, early 16th century |
| Physical description | The Virgin is standing with the Infant Christ in her left arm, on her right is St. Catherine crowned and holding a book in her right hand and a flower in her left, which she puts out towards the Child |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Dug up near Cologne. Bought, 5s. |
| Production | Germany - Siegburg |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This statuette is made by an unknwo artist in the early 16th century in Germany. The group shows the Virgin standing with the Infant Christ in her left arm. On her right is St. Catherine crowned and holding a book in her right hand and a flower in her left, which she puts out towards the Child. It is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes and pottery. Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which also pipe-clay figures were fired. Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also called St Catherine of the Wheel or the Great Martyr Saint Catherine. She is a Christian Saint and Martyr. Her principal symbol is a spiked wheel and her feast day is 25th November by most Christian churches. Following the Golden Legend she showed great erudition from an early age. She became queen, converted to Christianity and had a vision of marrying Christ. Maxentius, the Roman Emperor desired her and sent out 50 philosophers to try to interfere in her faith. Instead the philosophers were all converted to Christianity themselves. The legend tells that she was to be condemned to death on a torture wheel with iron spikes, which broke, when she touched it. She was then beheaded instead. There is doubt about her historical authenticity. |
| Bibliographic reference | Inventory of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1903 - 1904. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1903, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1907, p. 250 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1459-1903 |
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| Record created | November 21, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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