id: 144924
accession number: 1970.13
share license status: CC0
url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1970.13
updated: 2019-06-05 09:11:18.924000
Enthroned Virgin with the Writing Christ Child, c. 1400. Franco-Netherlandish, active Paris(?), 15th century. Limestone with polychromy and gilding; overall: 44.8 x 31.5 x 15 cm (17 5/8 x 12 3/8 x 5 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1970.13
title: Enthroned Virgin with the Writing Christ Child
title in original language:
series:
series in original language:
creation date: c. 1400
creation date earliest: 1395
creation date latest: 1405
current location: 109 Gothic Painting and Sculpture
creditline: John L. Severance Fund
copyright:
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culture: Franco-Netherlandish, active Paris(?), 15th century
technique: limestone with polychromy and gilding
department: Medieval Art
collection: MED - Gothic
type: Sculpture
find spot:
catalogue raisonne:
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CREATORS
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measurements: Overall: 44.8 x 31.5 x 15 cm (17 5/8 x 12 3/8 x 5 7/8 in.)
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
title: Year in Review: 1970
opening date: 1971-02-10T05:00:00
Year in Review: 1970. The Cleveland Museum of Art (February 10-March 7, 1971).
title: Traditions and Revisions: Themes from the History of Sculpture
opening date: 1975-09-24T04:00:00
Traditions and Revisions: Themes from the History of Sculpture. The Cleveland Museum of Art (September 24-November 16, 1975).
title: Paris 1400. les arts sous Charles VI
opening date: 2004-03-22T00:00:00
Paris 1400. les arts sous Charles VI. Musée du Louvre (organizer) (March 22-July 19, 2004).
title: Dukes and Angels: Art from the Court of Burgundy (1364-1419)
opening date: 2004-05-27T00:00:00
Dukes and Angels: Art from the Court of Burgundy (1364-1419). The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (October 24, 2004-January 9, 2005).
title: Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art
opening date: 2007-05-10T00:00:00
Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art. National Museum of Bavaria, Munich, Germany (May 10-September 16, 2007); J. Paul Getty Museum (October 30, 2007-January 20, 2008); Frist Center for the Visual Arts (February 13-June 7, 2009).
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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS
* Musée du Louvre, Paris (3/3/2004- 7/19/2004): "Paris 1400. les arts sous Charles VI", exh. cat. no. 214, p.336.
Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art; October 24, 2004-January 9, 2005. "Dukes and Angels: Art from the Court of Burgundy (1364-1419)."exh.cat.no.131, p.339, repr.p.338.
Bavarian Nationalmuseum, Munich (5/10/2007 - 9/16/2007), the J. Paul Getty Musuem, Los Angeles (10/30/2007 - 1/20/2008) and Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN (2/13/2009 - 6/7/2009): "Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art"
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PROVENANCE
(Dr. Kurt Rossacher, Salzburg, Austria).
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fun fact:
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wall description:
This sculpture belongs to a tradition of seated Virgins that were prominent in Netherlandish art in the decades around 1400, and by extension may be associated with the Valois courts at Paris, Dijon, and Bourges. The theme of the Christ child who writes into an open book or onto a vellum banderole emerged during the third quarter of the 14th century and had great appeal among ecclesiastical and aristocratic clients. It undoubtedly refers to the educating and nurturing role of the mother in teaching the child, but also to the future position of the adult Christ as author and teacher. The small scale of this sculpture and the fact that its back is uncarved suggest that it was made for a small alcove or niche, appropriate in the intimate setting of a small chapel or oratory. The sculpture would have primarily been viewed from the front and perhaps from slightly below.
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RELATED WORKS
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CITATIONS
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IMAGES
web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1970.13/1970.13_web.jpg
print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1970.13/1970.13_print.jpg
full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1970.13/1970.13_full.tif