Virgin and Child
Sculptures
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The Death of the Virgin
| Artist | |
|---|---|
| Culture | German |
| Date | 1500-1510 |
| Object type | sculpture |
| Medium, technique | limewood |
| Dimensions | 98 x 100 x 22 cm, 44 kg |
| Inventory number | 84.3 |
| Collection | Sculptures |
| On view | Museum of Fine Arts, Second Floor, European Sculpture 1350-1800, Gallery 1 |
Death of the Virgin is only mentioned in the
Apocrypha and the depiction of the scene became
common in the early Middle Ages. On the relief,
the Virgin Mary is praying on her knees, surrounded
by apostles holding candles and burning incense.
The image has its origins in Bohemia; it later spread
to Austria and southern Germany. The best-known
figurine of this type of the Virgin can be seen in the
high altar of Saint Mary’s Church in Cracow, carved
by Veit Stoss (ca. 1445/1450 – ca. 1533). The master
of the Budapest relief was probably familiar with
the aforementioned altarpiece, as Mary and some
of the apostles are quite similar to those in Cracow.
References
Balogh, Jolán – Szmodisné Eszláry, Éva, Katalog der ausländischen Bildwerke des Museums der bildenden Künste in Budapest, 4.-18. Jahrhundert, Bd. 3. Neuerwerbungen, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1994, p. 61-62., no. 45.
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.