The Virgin and Child
Statuette
ca. 1340-1350 (made)
ca. 1340-1350 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory statuette representing the Virgin and Child, made probably in France (Normandy), in about 1340-50. Three dimensional images of the Virgin and Child were ubiquitous from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries, produced in a wide range of materials and sizes and testifying the overwhelming devotion to th Virgin. Together with the Crucifixion, statues and statuettes of the Virgin and Child were the pricipal objects of devotion in the Christian Church, and vast numbers were made for ecclesisastical, monastic and private worship.
Ivory was used all over Europe for religious works of art. It was often combined with precious metals and usually took the form of relief panels, for book covers, portable altars and caskets. An almost unbroken tradition of ivory carving extends from the Roman and Byzantine empires until the end of the 14th century. From about 1250, Paris became the centre of production for figures and reliefs intended for private devotion.
Ivory was used all over Europe for religious works of art. It was often combined with precious metals and usually took the form of relief panels, for book covers, portable altars and caskets. An almost unbroken tradition of ivory carving extends from the Roman and Byzantine empires until the end of the 14th century. From about 1250, Paris became the centre of production for figures and reliefs intended for private devotion.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
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| Title | The Virgin and Child (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Elephant ivory |
| Brief description | Statuette, ivory, The Virgin and Child, probably French (Normandie), ca. 1340-1350 |
| Physical description | Ivory statuette of the Virgin and Child, the latter holding a bird. The seated Virgin supports the Christ-Child on her left knee. The Child is shown semi-naked, wearing a loincloth and holding a small bird by its wing in his left hand. The Virgin sits on a backless throne with overhanging seat and the back of her mantle is fully carved. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Purchased from the Webb Collection in 1867 (£46). In the possession of John Webb, London, by 1862. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory statuette representing the Virgin and Child, made probably in France (Normandy), in about 1340-50. Three dimensional images of the Virgin and Child were ubiquitous from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries, produced in a wide range of materials and sizes and testifying the overwhelming devotion to th Virgin. Together with the Crucifixion, statues and statuettes of the Virgin and Child were the pricipal objects of devotion in the Christian Church, and vast numbers were made for ecclesisastical, monastic and private worship. Ivory was used all over Europe for religious works of art. It was often combined with precious metals and usually took the form of relief panels, for book covers, portable altars and caskets. An almost unbroken tradition of ivory carving extends from the Roman and Byzantine empires until the end of the 14th century. From about 1250, Paris became the centre of production for figures and reliefs intended for private devotion. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 201-1867 |
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| Record created | December 22, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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