Virgin and Child

Madonna and Child
Paris, ca. 1250-1260
Elephant Ivory
H. 0.52 m ; W. 0.165 m ; D. 0.145 m
Cl. 1954

The Virgin is standing, leaning back. She carries the Child in her left arm. Her face is round, carefully styled, a little haughty. Her wavy hair is covered by a veil which is thrown over her chest. The Virgin wears an ample coat held in place on her shoulders by a thin rope. The robe is belted at the waist. The abundant, deep folds fall gracefully to her feet, outlining her leaning pose. The Child, dressed in a long shirt, holds on tightly to his mother, clutching her veil. Exceptional in its size, this Virgin was part of a group of ivory statuettes presenting the principal characters of the Monumental Virgins of 13th-century sculpture: the Virgin from the portal to the north transept of the Notre Dame, Paris, and the Golden Virgin of Amiens.