Artwork
Enthroned Virgin and Child
Enthroned Virgin and Child is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1350 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A seated woman in a golden crown and long flowing robe with touches of blue and gold holds a small standing child, her hair under a veil. The child points upward with one hand and holds a round object in the other. Carved about 1350, the figures are stiff and formal, their smooth shapes and calm faces almost wooden.
Overview
This artwork, titled Enthroned Virgin and Child, presents a solemn depiction of a crowned female figure seated with a young child standing at her side. The composition is arranged formally, characteristic of devotional imagery. The woman is adorned in a long robe with blue and gold accents, while the child engages with symbolic gestures and an object, inviting contemplation from the viewer.
Subject & Meaning
The piece portrays the Virgin Mary, identifiable by her golden crown and veil, in a regal, seated posture. Beside her, the Christ Child stands, gesturing heavenward with one hand while holding a spherical object in the other. These iconographic elements are common in religious art, with the upward gesture often signifying divine connection and the orb representing earthly dominion or the cosmos.
Technique & Style
The figures exhibit a notable stiffness and solemnity, characterized by their simplified, smooth forms. Their facial expressions are composed and serious, contributing to an overall sense of formality. The artistic execution emphasizes clean lines and a somewhat static quality, evoking the appearance of carved wood, which lends a timeless and monumental presence to the sacred subjects.
Artist & collection
