The Virgin
Unknown Artist
late 16th century
Medium
Polychromed wood
Dimensions
Height: 21 1/8 in. (53.7 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Southern Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Disque D. Deane, 1959
Accession Number
59.203.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, *The Virgin* is a late 16th-century polych wood sculpture from Southern Italy, standing at 21 1/8 inches tall. Crafted by an artist, this devotional figure depicts the Virgin Mary, a beloved icon in Catholic tradition, with delicate carving that brings her serene expression and flowing robes to life. The of polychromy—vibrant paints layered over wood—creates a lifelike quality, making her appear almost tangible to worshippers. In the vibrant artistic culture of Southern Italy during the late Renaiss...