Object composed of two engraved glass plaques. The lower register depicts the Virgin and Child. The upper register features a small plaque with a young girl and a unicorn.
Virgin and Child, Young girl with a unicorn, Cl. 13093 © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado
Engraved glass plaque depicting the Virgin and Child. Gilded scene on a black background. Front view.
Virgin and Child, Young girl with a unicorn, Cl. 13093 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado
Engraved glass plaque depicting a young girl holding a unicorn. The plaque is framed in wood adorned with leaves.
Virgin and Child, Young girl with a unicorn, Cl. 13093 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Virgin and Child, Young girl with a unicorn

Small scene in "verre églomisé"

Description

Not on display

Circa 1370

Late Middle Ages

This painting belongs to a limited corpus of works made using the "verre églomisé" technique. This gold leaf engraving technique faintly recalls the gilded glass of antiquity. Revived in Italy during the 13th century, painters in the northern part of the peninsula highly appreciated it for its exquisite character and the refinement of its details. The work has been attributed to Jacopo di Cione, a painter from the prestigious lineage of the painter Giotto.

The depiction of the young girl with the unicorn above the Virgin highlights the chastity and virginity of the mother of Christ. According to mediaeval texts, only a virgin girl could go near the mythical animal.
 

From one artwork to another

Lead object: boat with an inscription on the sail carrying a Virgin and Child. Front view.
Pilgrimage badge, Notre-Dame, Cl. 4697 © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Pilgrimage badges

13th century - 14th century - 15th century