Late Gothic sculpture of the Virgin and Child

A finely carved late Gothic walnut sculpture of the Virgin and Child, retaining excellent surface and detail. The Virgin stands gracefully in contrapposto, her mantle gathered in deep folds that swirl around her figure in the manner of the Brabant workshops. The Christ Child is shown perched on her hip, raising his right hand in blessing while holding a fruit — symbolic of salvation — in his left.
The rhythmic drapery, serene expression, and tender intimacy between mother and child place this work within the Netherlandish tradition of the early 16th century, related to the so-called “Beautiful Madonnas” that bridge the Gothic and Renaissance periods.
Such sculptures were often created for domestic devotion, allowing the faithful to meditate on the Virgin’s maternal intercession and Christ’s humanity. The present example, of impressive scale and refined execution, represents a rare survival in walnut from this period.