Virgin and Child
Unknown Artist
ca. 1340–50
Medium
Limestone, paint, gilt, glass
Dimensions
68 × 22 13/16 × 11 1/4 in. (172.7 × 58 × 28.5 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
French
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 1937
Accession Number
37.159
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to The Cloisters, where this striking *Virgin and Child* (ca. 1340–50) invites you into the devotional world of medieval France. Carved from limestone by an unknown artist, this life-sized sculpture (standing over 5 feet tall) depicts the tender embrace of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, a beloved theme in Christian iconography symbolizing maternal love and divine incarnation. The figures' graceful poses and elongated forms reflect the elegance of late Gothic sculpture, evoking serenity and spiritual intimacy. Crafted with paint, gilding, and glass—likely for the Virgin's ey...