A Burgundian carved limestone figure of the V ..., Madonna mit Kind

A Burgundian carved limestone figure of the Virgin and Child, circa 1450

Carved three-quarters in the round, the reverse flattened. Remains of older polychromy. A large figure of the Virgin Mary standing in a slightly swaying pose, designed for a frontal and slightly lowered viewpoint. She wears a veil beneath a crown and a floor length dress with a prominent girdle as a symbol of Her virginity. A richly draped cloak is drawn across Her shoulders. She presents the Christ Child to the beholder in both hands, and He in turn holds a bird which pecks Him as it struggles to escape - a veiled reference to the Passion. This motif alone would allow us to localise the work to the Northern French tradition of the 14th century, however, the overall appearance of the statue points more towards the mid-15th century school of French Burgundy.

With a hole for fixture to the reverse. Wear with minor losses, especially to the crown and the hem of the Virgin's robe. Parts of the surface painted over with a slightly discoloured clear varnish. Height 124 cm. Provenance

South German private collection.