Virgin and Child
May one see it?
Yes, receiving visitors
London, United Kingdom
RoomMedieval & Renaissance, Room 64a, The Robert H. Smith Gallery
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
The stucco relief of the Virgin and Child was probably cast after a bronze plaquette designed by Donatello. There are two similar examples of this plaquette in the V&A collection (museum nos. 7474-1861 and 5473-1859). Plaquettes, being small and portable, allowed artists' designs to be disseminated widely and across different media.
The decoration was probably painted and gilded by the Florentine artist Paolo di Stefano (also known as Paolo Schiavo).
The relief is likely to have been used as a small shrine in a domestic setting, but it may also have been portable. The remains of two hinges at either side suggest it once had wings, which could be closed to protect the relief during travel.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- A.45-1926
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
