The Virgin Mary
Unknown Artist
16th–17th century
Medium
Heliotrope
Dimensions
Height: 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm)
Classification
Lapidary Work-Gems
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Milton Weil Collection, 1939
Accession Number
39.22.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, *The Virgin Mary* is exquisite example of 16th–17th Italian lapidary work Carved from heliotrope—a striking green chalcedony flecked with red iron oxide inclusions—this tiny gem measures just 1 5/16 inches (3.3 cm) in height. Its profile depiction of the Virgin Mary captures her serene visage in intricate relief, a testament to the artist's mastery of engraving on such a hard, unyielding stone. Heliotrope, also known as bloodstone, was prized in Renaissance and Baroque Italy for its durability and symbol...