The Virgin and Child

This figure of the standing Virgin and Christ Child is stripped of its original paint. The Child is dressed in a long tunic. His left hand holds an orb, probably a fruit. This detail has been restored. He blesses with his right hand.

Most statuettes made in Malines (Mechelen, Belgium) had multi-colour painted decoration so this example shows what a difference such decoration made. With the Virgin's face, for example, our attention is now drawn to the simple rounded shape and heavy eye-lids. The lack of colour also makes it difficult to see the different parts of the sculpture. For example, the decorative punched and painted border of the Virgin's mantle would have emphasized the visual break between the figure and the base.