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

The Virgin and Child

Statuette
second half of 15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Italy (made)

The Virgin and Child was probably originally enclosed either singly within a tabernacle-like shrine or as the central feature of a larger multi-figured altarpiece. The form of the latter was introduced into Italy from Northern Europe and many examples still exist in the Trentino, in the North-East of the country.


Object details

Categories
Christianity
Sculpture
Object type
Statuette
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Statuette
  • Relief
  • Fragment
TitleThe Virgin and Child (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted wood
Wood
Brief description
Statuette, relief carved in wood, the Virgin and Child, Italy (Central or North), second half of the 15th century
Physical description
The Virgin is seated, with a fruit or orb in her left hand and the naked Child Christ on her right knee. The flesh parts of both figures are painted naturalistically. The Virgin's blue robe is edged at the neck with a narrow gilt border, and her red lined mantle also shows substantial traces of gilding.
Dimensions
  • Height: 76.2cm
  • Width: 38.1cm
Object history
Purchased in London (Plommer, £80).
Subjects depicted
Fruit
Orb
Virgin and Child
Summary
The Virgin and Child was probably originally enclosed either singly within a tabernacle-like shrine or as the central feature of a larger multi-figured altarpiece. The form of the latter was introduced into Italy from Northern Europe and many examples still exist in the Trentino, in the North-East of the country.
Bibliographic references
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 108
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume I: Text. Eighth to Fifteenth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 294, cat. no. 305
  • Review of the Principal Acquisitions during the year 1911, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, published under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, pp. 5-6
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.100-1911

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O349218/the-virgin-and-child-statuette-unknown/
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