s01272702
Virgin and Child in Majesty - 2012.52_print
"Virgin and Child in Majesty," on view at The Cleveland Museum of Art in Gallery 106B, is a walnut wood carving of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child dating to 1150-1200 from Auvergne, France. Both figures are carved in an upright, rigid position facing forward. According to the museum, this sculpture belongs to a set of sculptures of the Virgin and Child, Sedes Sapientiae, which means "Throne of Wisdom." The name comes from the arrangement of the figures - with Mary seated on a throne, and Christ on her lap, she becomes the throne to Christ. This is a symbol of her role in birthing the human Jesus, and in turn the divine Christ. For this, she was highly revered, especially in the 12th century onwards. Interestingly, the sculpture is smaller than life-size and the figures' heads are detachable, which experts speculate is so they could be "dressed" for different religious processions.
The sculpture is 40 x 22 x 24 cm (15 3/4 x 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 in.).
It was purchased by the Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2012.52.
The image is in the Public Domain and can be seen on the museum's website.
Virgin and Child in Majesty - 2012.52_print
"Virgin and Child in Majesty," on view at The Cleveland Museum of Art in Gallery 106B, is a walnut wood carving of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child dating to 1150-1200 from Auvergne, France. Both figures are carved in an upright, rigid position facing forward. According to the museum, this sculpture belongs to a set of sculptures of the Virgin and Child, Sedes Sapientiae, which means "Throne of Wisdom." The name comes from the arrangement of the figures - with Mary seated on a throne, and Christ on her lap, she becomes the throne to Christ. This is a symbol of her role in birthing the human Jesus, and in turn the divine Christ. For this, she was highly revered, especially in the 12th century onwards. Interestingly, the sculpture is smaller than life-size and the figures' heads are detachable, which experts speculate is so they could be "dressed" for different religious processions.
The sculpture is 40 x 22 x 24 cm (15 3/4 x 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 in.).
It was purchased by the Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2012.52.
The image is in the Public Domain and can be seen on the museum's website.