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

The Christ Child

Statuette
ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Seville (made)

The diminutive nude figure stands on a blue cloud base with three cherubim. It was almost certainly intended for private devotion, perhaps in a convent. It was probably made in Seville around 1700, and recalls the work of Luisa Roldán (1652-1706), who specialised in small-scale terracotta sculpture.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Christianity
Religion
SCRAN
Object type
Statuette
TitleThe Christ Child (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted terracotta
Terracotta
Painting
Brief description
Statuette, Christ Child, painted terracota, Seville, ca. 1700
Physical description
Painted terracotta statuette depicting the Christ Child.
Dimensions
  • Height: 13.9cm
Object history
Bought by John Charles Robinson in 1863 from Marin, Granada for £1 1s.
The delicate features of this Christ Child are reminiscent of the terracottas being produced in Seville in the late 17th and early 18th century.
Historical context
This piece was almost certainly intended for private devotion, perhaps in a convent, and is unlikely to come from a larger ensemble.
Subjects depicted
Clouds
Cherubim
Jesus Christ
Summary
The diminutive nude figure stands on a blue cloud base with three cherubim. It was almost certainly intended for private devotion, perhaps in a convent. It was probably made in Seville around 1700, and recalls the work of Luisa Roldán (1652-1706), who specialised in small-scale terracotta sculpture.
Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie. Spanish Sculpture. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. 172 p., ill. ISBN 1851771778.
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1864 In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 71
  • Riaño, Juan F. Classified and descriptive catalogue of the art objects of Spanish production in the South Kensington Museum. "(First edition)" London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1872, p. 3
  • Theuerkauff, C. Die Bildwerke in Elfenbein des 16. - 19. Jahrhunderts, Berlin, 1986, p. 379, 80, note 16.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
319-1864

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Record createdNovember 13, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O70087/the-christ-child-statuette-unknown/
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