Madonna And Child – Southern Netherlands, Ca. 1470–1525

Carved oak, unpolychromed
Height: 24 cm
Brabantine workshop (likely Leuven or Brussels)

A finely carved devotional statue of the Virgin Mary seated in majesty, holding the Christ Child on her left knee. Both figures wear crowns carved integrally from the same block of oak, with no applied ornamentation. The Virgin holds a cluster of grapes in her right hand — a symbolic reference to the Eucharist and the Passion of Christ. The sculpture exhibits graceful proportions, strong verticality, and deeply incised Gothic drapery folds. The Virgin’s face is elongated and serene, with stylized almond-shaped eyes, while the Child raises his right hand in blessing.

The work is entirely carved from a single piece of oak, including the throne, figures, and crowns. It is sculpted fully in the round, with particular attention paid to the back — where the Virgin’s long hair is finely detailed, indicating the artist’s intent for this to be a fully viewable devotional object. A single hole is present at the underside, likely for original mounting. No traces of polychromy remain, and the statue was likely never painted, consistent with a tradition of unadorned devotional sculpture made for private prayer.

This piece reflects the craftsmanship of late 15th to early 16th-century Brabantine workshops, operating within the Southern Netherlandish Gothic tradition. Its restrained elegance, theological symbolism, and intimate scale (24 cm) all point to its use as a private devotional object, probably commissioned by a member of the urban bourgeoisie or a monastic community.

In excellent condition, with minor age-related wear, warm patina, and no restoration.