Polychrome Madonna and Child, Flemish, 17th/18th Century

A carved polychrome figure of a crowned Madonna and child, probably Flemish, 17th/18th century. 117 cm high The increasing influence of courtly imagery on depictions of the Virgin Mary, especially in Northern Europe, meant that by the fourteenth century she is often shown as the Queen of Heaven, even ?though her representation with the baby Jesus clearly predates her Coronation by her son in heaven. Her regal character is further emphasized by the composition: her feet are supported by a voluminous, gold tasseled cushion and the drapery folds about her knees indicate that she is intended to be read as a seated figure. She also holds a bouquet of roses, referring to the epithet, 'a rose without thorns', symbolising her virginity. Depictions of Mary holding the Christ Child who, in turn, blesses the viewer, derive from the Byzantine image of the Virgin Hodegetria. This image retains some of the hierarchical features of the Eastern, iconic model, especially as Christ looks out to the viewer rather than engaging in a naturalistic, childlike way with his mother. He holds an orb and makes the gesture of blessing with his right hand, characterizing him as Salvator Mundi. This, and the fairly rigid character of the facial features suggest that the work probably dates from the first half of the fourteenth century. Dr. Bronwyn Stocks