Saint Elizabeth was born in 1207, the daughter of Andreas II, King of Hungary; her crown alludes to her royal birth. Many legends about her generosity and work on behalf of the poor were circulated in the Middle Ages, among them the subject of this sculpture: food she was carrying to the poor was mi
Surviving in fragmentary condition, this pair of angels lacks lower arms, hands, wings, and attributes. Their original paint and gilding, now almost entirely lost, once rendered their garments a rich brocade and their hair a luxuriant gold. Nonetheless, in their graceful poses and sublime faces—whic
Tino da Camaino was active in Siena, Pisa, and Florence after 1311 where he established his reputation as an important and gifted sculptor. In 1323 he was summoned to the Angevin court at Naples, probably by King Robert of Anjou to work on the sepulchral monument of the king's daughter-in-law, Cathe
These figures of the Virgin and Saint John once formed part of a Crucifixion group that would have originally included a figure of Christ on the cross shown at center. Fortunately the original polychromy of the two figures has been preserved, affording the viewer a rare opportunity to appreciate a r
This standing Virgin now lacks the child she once cradled in her left arm. The sculpture may have been damaged in the French Revolution by falling onto its face. It was carved from soft white limestone of a type known to be quarried at Asnières-lès-Dijon, near Champmol. The figure recalls many of th
The figure shows the sleeping Jesse, the father of David from the Old Testament. As the ancestor of the family tree of Christ, he was depicted in the Middle Ages sleeping as the starting point of the tree, on whose branches the ancestors of Christ are depicted. Mary with the Christ child is always s
This half-length Madonna represents one of the finest of about 40 surviving variants, all of which display many characteristics of the Florentine bronze sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti. These features include serene facial types with narrow eyes and thin eyebrows, the careful arrangement of the Madonna an
These monumental stone heads are among the substantial known remains of the sculptural program of Thérouanne’s cathedral, which was razed by Emperor Charles V of Spain in June 1553. These heads were found in a wall of rue Ste. Croix in the town of Saint Omer (a short distance to the north) in Januar
The word vesperbild is the German word for pietà, the image of the Virgin Mary cradling her dead son on her lap. The theme has no literary source; it originated in Germany during the early 1300s and was more widespread in central Europe than in Italy. These devotional sculptures were used within the
Inscribed on the base are the words ECCE AGNUS DEI (Behold the Lamb of God). Multscher was a prominent and successful sculptor from the Bavaria region who operated a large and prolific workshop with as many as 16 assistants. He worked in many materials and his work reflects a deep knowledge of Flemi
This sculpture of Moses, holding the tablets with the Ten Commandments, and the opposite figure, his brother Aaron, form part of a rare ensemble of key figures from the Hebrew Bible. Often shown together on Gothic portals as forerunners of Jesus, they and other statues originally flanked an enthrone
Limestone statue of the Virgin and Child with traces of polychromy, French or German. The sculpture is 51 cm high.
Limestone statue of the Virgin and Child with traces of polychromy, made in France by the Atelier of the Juliots. The sculpture is 39.2 cm high.
This sculpture and another example of the same subject preserved in the church at Saint Die are among the finest representatives of the regional style found in Lorraine in the early fourteenth century. It is a statue in polychromed and gilded Paris limestone that measures about 87 x 30.2 x 21.9 cm.
This sculpture reflects the influence of Bon and may have been carved by a follower of his in the third quarter of the century. It is a fine example of Italian Renaissance sculpture that would have held a commanding position in an architectural context.
Writing on a long scroll, the youthful saint records divinely inspired revelations. Due to his youthfulness, he probably represents Saint John, who, in addition to his own Gospel, was believed to have written the Apocalypse (Book of Revelation) while living in exile on the Greek Island of Patmos.
Oak wall statue of the risen Christ. It is 69.2 cm (27 1/4 in.) tall.
Represented as Queen of Heaven, the Virgin holds a playful Christ Child who, in turn, has caught a bird in flight. The bird symbolizes the soul and its resurrection. The bird nourishes itself on the blood of Christ, an act that refers to the Eucharist.
The Catalan sculptor, architect, and painter Guillem Seguer was active in the diocese of Lleida and elsewhere in the mid-1300s. This limestone statue with polychromy and gilding measures 132.7 x 41.6 x 32.1 cm (52 1/4 x 16 3/8 x 12 5/8 in.).
Limestone statue with traces of polychromy, made in Troyes, France. It measures 75.9 x 43.8 x 30.5 cm (29 7/8 x 17 1/4 x 12 in.).
Limestone relief statue with traces of polychromy and gilding, made in Lorraine, France. It measures 69.9 x 54.6 x 27.3 cm (27 1/2 x 21 1/2 x 10 3/4 in.).
Glazed terracotta. Dimensions: 67 × 44.5 cm (26 3/8 × 17 1/2 in.)
This triptych features scenes from the infancy and Passion of Christ, arranged in a chronological sequence from left to right, starting at the bottom with the Annunciation, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Presentation in the Temple.
Painted wood and terracotta with various textiles.
