Huge 18th century black Virgin with the Child, Rousillon , France or Spain

Baroque Virgin and Child with Peruvian Silver Crown, Spain, 18th Century A magnificent Baroque sculpture carved in wood and polychromed, depicting the Virgin and Child. The Virgin i...

Completely hand-crafted in 18th century Spain, this sculpture of the Virgin stands 1.5 meters / 5 feet tall and was most certainly created for devotional purposes, to be displayed in a church or chapel. Besides its impressive size this sculpture is an excellent, museum-quality example of the Spanish “Estofado” polychrome technique, developed during the Gothic period to imitate rich brocade fabrics. The finely carved “fabric” areas of the sculpture would be first covered in gesso, and then a layer of gold leaf would be applied. The gold leaf would then be painted over with various colors of tempera paints. Once dry, the painted surface would be incised or scratched away in patterns, revealing the gold beneath. The sculpture was professionally restored in 2022 by a firm that is often hired by the Spanish government to work on historic building interiors and museum pieces. The virgin was carefully cleaned, repaired and its condition stabilized. A complete and fully-illustrated restoration report will be included with purchase. Often confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary herself was conceived “immaculately” without original sin has been variously defended and debated within the Catholic Church since the pre-Middle Ages. For centuries, artists struggled to create an acceptable visual representation of this highly abstract concept, in part taking inspiration from the Book of Revelation and other scriptural sources. We see the Virgin standing on a half moon (biblically inspired, though also an ancient symbol of chastity) with her long natural hair loose down her back, another indication of purity. Both her white tunic and flowing blue mantle...

Technique: Tempera and oil on wood Dimensions: 25 x 11 x 8 cm Description: This exceptional work from the 12th century represents the Seated Virgin with Child (Sedes Sapientiae), standing out as an artistic treasure from medieval Spain. The portrayal of the Virgin enthroned with the Child on her lap is emblematic of Romanesque art, and this particular piece is a valuable and authentic example of that era. The current polychromy belongs to the Gothic period and overlays the original Romanesque layer. It is crucial to highlight that the current state of the artwork is the original, without any cleaning interventions, imparting a unique authenticity. The work exhibits architectural characteristics typical of Romanesque art, evident in the sides of the throne. The rigidity and symmetry characteristic of this style are reflected in the firm presentation of the Baby Jesus, noticeable in his gesture while holding his son. The Virgin wears a crown, symbolizing her royal character as the Queen of Heaven and Creation. Both figures retain traces of polychromy on the face and attire, adding layers of history and authenticity. While similar Romanesque Virgin...

18th Century north Spanish polychrome wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus.  

CHILD JESUS SAVIOR OF THE WORLD 18th Century portuguese sculpture in polychrome and gilded wood with fabric cover. Mounted on a spherical base and golden plinth. Shine in silver, un...

Place this beautiful gilt statue with base in a living room or bedroom. Hand carved circa 1780, this elegant two-piece antique sculpture was found in a chapel in Southern France and ...

Virgin of Miraflores in polychrome maguey wood with Child and copper crown, 18th century Magnificent sculpture of the Virgin of Miraflores carved in polychrome maguey wood, from the ...

Nossa Senhora da Conceição (The Immaculate Conception) Brazil (Minas Gerais), 18th century, or Luso-Brazilian Carved steatite (pedra sabão) with traces of original polychromy; mounte...

Baroque Polychrome Wooden Virgin with Period Silver Crown, 18th Century This Spanish Virgin, dating from the late 18th or early 19th century, is carved in polychrome wood (face and...

A Carved and Polychrome-Painted Group of the Virgin and Christ, 18th Century The modelled standing in robes holding the Christ child, on a rockwork base with a seraphim mask to the ...