Mourning Virgin from a Crucifixion Group

about 1620/40

Overall: 31 x 9.8 x 8.7 cm (12 3/16 x 3 7/8 x 3 7/16 in.)
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Did You Know?

Looking closely, you can see that the sculptor carved tears under Mary's eyes. They show her pain over Christ hanging on the cross.

Description

This statuette once formed part of a Crucifixion group intended for a domestic shrine or chapel. Such ensembles were not only used for private devotion and meditation, but were also collected as works of art. Despite the regrettable loss of arms and hands, the work’s virtuosity in capturing the Virgin’s profound sorrow is evident in the sensuous carving of her tearful face, the subtle rendering of her long wavy hair, and the exaggerated treatment of her fluttering garment. Veit Stoss was one of the greatest German sculptors of the period. A native of Swabia and believed to have received part of his training in the Upper Rhine valley, he was active mainly in Nuremberg and Krakow. While known mostly for his monumental works, he also produced small-scale statuettes and ensembles such as this one for private devotion.
Mourning Virgin from a Crucifixion Group

Mourning Virgin from a Crucifixion Group

about 1620/40

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.