Virgin enthroned
- Object:
- Place of origin:
England, Great Britain (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Sacred Silver & Stained Glass, room 84, case S3
- Download image
The shape of this panel indicates that it came from the top of a window. Originally, a similarly shaped panel would have been accompanied it in a neighbouring window. The two panels together represent the theme of the ‘Glorification of the Virgin in Heaven’. The other one would have had an image of Christ Enthroned.
Devotion to the Virgin Mary was widespread in Christian countries in the Middle Ages. However, the Bible records very little of her life. Most of the stories and the associated imagery about Mary that we find in churches and museums today come from accounts written centuries after her death. These stories were gathered together in the Golden Legend, a compilation of saints’ lives written about 1260 by Jacobus de Voragine, who later became Archbishop of Genoa. This had an enormous influence on church art.
The Golden Legend recounts an earlier story of the death of the Virgin and her Assumption into heaven. There she was greeted by a host of angels and by her son, Jesus Christ, who placed her on a throne next to his and put a crown on her head. In art, Christ is frequently depicted in the act of crowning his mother. In this panel that event has already occurred. Mary is now glorified as ‘Queen of Heaven’.
Physical description
Panel, with cusped top, from coronation tracery light. The Virgin, crowned and seated, within a border of trellis and square rosettes. A field of flowers at her feet.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Date
ca. 1400-1420 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Stained glass
Dimensions
Height: 53 cm, Width: 31.5 cm
Historical context note
The shape of this panel would indicate that it came from the top of a window. It would have originally been accompanied in a neighbouring window by a similar shaped panel. This latter panel would have had an image of Christ Enthroned. The two together represent the theme of the 'Glorification of the Virgin in Heaven'.
Devotion to the Virgin Mary was widespread in Christian countries in the Middle Ages. However, very little is recorded of her life in the Bible. Most of the stories and the associated imagery about Mary that we find in churches and museums today comes from writings centuries after her death. These stories were gathered together in a mid 13th century compilation of saints' lives by Jacobus de Voragine, later to become the archbishop of Gerona. This was known as The Golden Legend and it had an enormous influence on church art.
The Golden Legend recounts an earlier story of the death of the Virgin and her Assumption into Heaven. There she was greeted by a host of angels and by her son, Jesus Christ, who placed her on a throne next to his and put a crown on her head. This was frequently depicted with Christ in the act of crowning his mother. In this panel that event has already occurred and she is now 'Queen of Heaven' and this is her glorification.
Descriptive line
Clear glass with painted details and yellow (silver) stain depicting the Virgin Enthroned. Made in England about 1400-20.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Williamson, Paul. Medieval and Renaissance Stained Glass in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2003. ISBN 1851774041
Labels and date
THE VIRGIN ENTHRONED
From a tracery light at the top of a window. The Virgin would originally have been paired with a seated figure of Christ in a tracery light to the right, forming the scene of the Glorification of the Virgin.
England, about 1400-20
Museum no. C.295-1911 [(PW) 2003]
Materials
Stained glass
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Mary (Virgin Mary); Architecture; Saints; Halo; Crowns; Thrones; Maternity
Categories
Religion; Christianity; Stained Glass
Collection code
CER
