A Virgin Saint

This Virgin Saint would originally have belonged to a multi-figured altarpiece. Like many other wood sculptures of this date it has been completely stripped off its paint. The facial type and the drapery belong to the so-called 'International Style' - or 'Soft Style' - of the 'Schöne Madonnen' ('Beautiful Madonnas') and Pietà groups produced in different places in Central Europe: in this case, it is possible to give a more exact ascription to the area around Salzburg. Figures of this type were widely exported, and influenced the style of certain workshops in Central and Northern Italy.