id: 146077 accession number: 1971.269 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1971.269 updated: 2022-01-04 16:44:07.066000 Female Bust, c. 1470-1500. Austria, 15th century. Painted and gilded lindenwood; overall: 52.7 cm (20 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1971.269 title: Female Bust title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1470-1500 creation date earliest: 1465 creation date latest: 1505 current location: creditline: John L. Severance Fund copyright: --- culture: Austria, 15th century technique: painted and gilded lindenwood department: Medieval Art collection: MED - Gothic type: Sculpture find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Overall: 52.7 cm (20 3/4 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Year in Review: 1972 opening date: 1973-02-27T05:00:00 Year in Review: 1972. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (February 27-March 18, 1973). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE Graf Wilczek, Burg Kreuzenstein bei Kornneuburg (near Vienna); (Blumka Gallery, New York). date: footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: This female bust is part of a series of three in the museum's collection. The identity of the figures has been speculated by scholars but without resolution. Because this and the other female busts in the series do not retain their attributes, it is difficult to know their original purpose. It is possible that they may have once formed a group of female saints from the predella of a large altarpiece. Since the sculpture is not carved in the round, this hypothesis has merit. Another recent proposal is that this and the other sculptures may be from a series of female busts representing the wise and foolish virgins referenced in Matthew 25:1-13, a parable by Jesus admonishing listeners to be spiritually prepared. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1971.269/1971.269_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1971.269/1971.269_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1971.269/1971.269_full.tif