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Statuette of the Virgin and Child

early 16th century
Not on view
This boxwood statuette, carved entirely in the round, depicts the Virgin Mary standing and holding her infant son Jesus, her body shifted to accommodate his weight. Though the two figures’ arrangement is typical of late medieval representations of Mary and her son, the inclusion of a basket in Jesus’ hands is an unusual detail. An object like this statuette, notable for its diminutive size, likely would have been found in a domestic setting, where it served as a focus of personal devotion. A hole drilled into the back of the statuette indicates that it was originally mounted to a wall or piece of furniture, while Mary’s downward gaze suggests an intended placement slightly above the eyes of the original owner. A testament to the popularity and increasing accessibility of religious images for the late medieval faithful, this image helps to conjure the role and presence of religion in the domestic sphere of medieval life.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Statuette of the Virgin and Child
  • Date: early 16th century
  • Culture: Franco-Netherlandish
  • Medium: Boxwood
  • Dimensions: 3 9/16 in. (9 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Wood
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020
  • Object Number: 2021.37.18
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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