Medallion, probably Margaret of Lorraine (recto); the Virgin Seated on a Throne Before Two Widows (verso)

About this artwork

Widowhood was an uncertain social state in the sixteenth century; it could be either liberating or severely restrictive. For these women, adopting the lifestyle of a nun and living in a convent was a common occurrence. This medallion with a portrait of a noble widow, perhaps Saint Margaret of Lorraine, was used by such courtly widows as an aid to meditation and spiritual support. The back side of the medallion depicts a heavenly vision with two widows praying the rosary before the Virgin and Ch...