Veit StossGerman, 1447–1533Virgin and Child
About the sculpture
Its small size, the richness of its forms and the virtuoso carving all suggest that this figure was made for a collector. The Virgin Mary stands with the infant Christ in her arms. Beneath her feet is a crescent moon. The pose may refer to a passage from the Bible: ‘In heaven, a great portent appeared; a woman that wore the sun for her mantle, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars about her head’(Apocalypse 12: 1-2).
The work of the German sculptor who made the figure, Veit Stoss, received critical acclaim across Europe. The Italian critic Vasari described his work as 'a miracle in wood'.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- 646-1893
