ticketsMember | Make a donation

The Virgin

1906, cast 1909
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 774
The ideal female head was a common theme in O’Connor’s oeuvre during his first Parisian tenure (1904-14). The sculptor’s wife, Jessie, was a frequent model for these pieces and quite likely posed for this bust. The physiognomy of the expressionless Virgin, although simplified and stylized, corresponds to contemporary photographs and portrait busts of Jessie O’Connor. O’Connor's representation of the Virgin is distinguished by her long hair and ridged nose. According to the sculptor, it is a unique work. This head was exhibited in 1910 at the International Art Exposition in Venice and in 1917-18 in a solo show at Jacques Seligmann Company in New York.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Virgin
  • Artist: Andrew O'Connor (American, Worcester, Massachusetts 1874–1941 Dublin)
  • Date: 1906, cast 1909
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: 17 1/4 x 8 x 9 in. (43.8 x 20.3 x 22.9 cm)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1918
  • Object Number: 18.38
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Abraham Lincoln, Andrew O'Connor American, Limestone, American
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew O'Connor
1916
Augustus Saint-Gaudens, John Flanagan American, Bronze, American
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
John Flanagan
Kunst Foundry
1905–24, cast 1924
Study for the Head of The Melvin Memorial, Daniel Chester French American, Bronze, American
Study for the Head of The Melvin Memorial
Daniel Chester French
John Williams
1907; cast before 1914
John La Farge, Edith Woodman Burroughs American, Bronze, American
John La Farge
Edith Woodman Burroughs
C. Valsuani
1908
Head of a Spanish Peasant, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney American, Bronze, American
Head of a Spanish Peasant
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney
C. Valsuani
1911

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.