Bust of the Virgin
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Bust of the Virgin” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
This bust was probably part of a full-length figure of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. Remains of paint can be seen in the hair. The object was created in the Portuguese colony of Goa in the seventeenth- century. The style of the facial features, the heavy lidded eyes and the wavy hair respectively, point towards this origin.
Ivory carving had a long tradition on the Indian subcontinent, and elaborate works of art were made, particularly as diplomatic gifts, often presented to Western rulers. From the sixteenth century onwards, the four main missionary Orders, the Augustinians, Jesuits, Dominicans and Franciscans, built churches and aimed to convert the inhabitants of India. The ivories would assist in the presentation of Christian imagery, as well as being exported back to churches, convents and private collectors in Europe.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Details
- Accession number
- A.15-1922
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
