Roundel with Virgin and Child and a Carmelite Donatrix
Unknown Artist
1530–40
Medium
Colorless glass, silver stain, vitreous paint
Dimensions
Overall Diam.: 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm)
Classification
Glass-Stained
Culture
South Netherlandish
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 1932
Accession Number
32.24.54
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite roundel from 1530–40 captures a tender moment of devotion, showing the Virgin Mary cradling the Christ Child alongside a Carmelite nun who likely commissioned the piece as a donor. Created in the South Netherlands during the early Renaissance, it reflects the deep spiritual traditions of the Carmelite order, which emphasized contemplation and service. The small scale—only 8½ inches across—suggests it was designed not for a grand cathedral but for a private chapel, convent window, or domestic setting, allowing personal prayer to be framed in luminous color. The artwork’s medium ...