Virgin and Child
c. 1245
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
22.4 × 9.5 cm (8 7/8 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
statuette
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
37398
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This seated Virgin and Child was carved in the middle of the 13th century, a time when private devotional practices became increasingly popular. In bedchambers or in small oratories, private domestic spaces set aside for prayer, images like this would have served as focal points for prayer and meditation. During the High Middle Ages, the Virgin was revered as a powerful intercessor between humanity and Christ. At the same time, she was also worshipped as the Queen of Heaven. Although the Virgin’...
About the Artist
French
Georges Hugnet (1906–1974) was a multifaceted French artist, poet, writer, and critic whose innovative collages and graphic works bridged Dada and Surrealism. Born in Paris on July 11, 1906, he spent much of his early childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, returning to France around 1913. His early life and artistic training remain sparsely documented, with no records of formal art school attendanc...