Artwork
Mater Dolorosa (The Virgin Mary Mourning)
Mater Dolorosa (The Virgin Mary Mourning) is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist George-Daniel de Monfreid. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Mater Dolorosa is a sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary in mourning.
- Accession no.
- 2002.54
- Credit line
- John L. Severance Fund
About this work
Overview
Mater Dolorosa is a sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary in mourning. It was created as part of a Calvary scene that may have remained incomplete.
Subject & Meaning
The work represents a pivotal moment in Christian iconography, capturing the emotional intensity of Mary's grief. The Nabis, the artistic group to which the sculptor belonged, emphasized spiritual themes and reacted against the perceived superficiality of Impressionism.
Technique & Style
The sculpture's color palette, dominated by shadowy browns, blues, and purples, evokes the appearance of ceramic glazes, suggesting the artist's original intention to work in that medium. The use of intense, unrealistic colors and a soft, hazy effect contributes to the work's emotional impact.
History & Provenance
The sculpture was gifted to Doctor Gouzer in 1897, a mutual friend of the artist and Paul Gauguin. Gauguin, in his correspondence with the artist, praised the work as a significant achievement.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George-Daniel de Monfreid (14 March 1856 – 26 November 1929) was a French painter and art collector.
