Bust of the Virgin
Unknown Artist
ca. 1390–95
Medium
Terracotta with paint
Dimensions
12 13/16 x 8 13/16 x 5 7/16 in. (32.5 x 22.4 x 13.8 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Ceramics
Culture
Bohemian
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 2005
Accession Number
2005.393
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this *Bust of the Virgin (ca. 1390–95) is a poignant example of Bohemian terracotta sculpture. Crafted from fired clay and originally adorned with paint, the 12 13/16-inch-high captures the Virgin Mary, likely crowned as Queen of Heaven, in a intimate scale perfect for private devotion. Its modest dimensions—32.5 x 22.4 x 13.8 cm—suggest it graced a noble household altar or chapel, embodying the spiritual tenderness of late medieval piety. Bohemia, a thriving cultural hub in the late 14th century under the Luxembourg dynasty, produce...