Mary and Jesus, often referred to as Madonna and Child, have been the subjects of art since the 3rd century when a rendering of the duo was painted on the walls of the Roman Catacombs of Priscilla. Our French sculpture is a beautiful depiction of Madonna and Child in oak, hand-carved in the 1700s. The sculpture has since been bleached, giving the wood a grayish-beige hue, and mounted to a painted black stand with a stepped out molding.

As is typically seen in art, this young Jesus is clutching a ball. Many art historians believe this is a reference to Jesus being Salvator Mundi (“Savior of the World”), with the sphere representing the Earth. Madonna is clad in a long, flowing robe with sandals, holding Jesus above her left hip, touching the fabric that is loosely draped around the child. The detailed carvings are exceptional, noticeably the bunched fabric of the robe, Madonna’s hair bun, and the round plinth she stands on. Beneath Madonna’s feet is a pair of winged cherub mascarons extending from opposite sides of the sphere. A snake with an apple in its mouth wraps itself around the plinth, partially covering a band of fluting around the circumference. The tail of the snake terminates at the base, just above the black stand, which allows our oak sculpture of Madonna and Child to be displayed on a mantel, bookshelf, or table.

CONDITION: Good antique condition. Minor age separations. Light nicks and rubs. The wood was bleached more recently, leaving traces of the original finish. The painted black stand is also not original.