Alabaster relief of the Coronation of the Virgin. Nottingham, 15th century.

An alabaster relief depicting the Coronation of the Virgin with the Holy Trinity.

English, probably Nottingham, early 15th century.

Measures 40 x 26cm.

The praying Virgin is enthroned to the centre of the panel and surrounded by the Holy Trinity. Above the Virgin hovers a Dove representing the Holy Spirit and to each side she is flanked by the figures of God the Father and Christ. The Coronation of the Virgin, in which Our Lady is crowned and blessed by the Holy Trinity was a popular subject of alabaster sculptors in England during the 15th century, similar examples can be found in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession numbers; A.6-1921, A.35-1946, A.168-1946, A.60-1925 & A.173-1946. The panel is a remarkable survivor of King Henry VIII’s reformation (1534 - until the death of Elizabeth I in 1603), in which England separated from the Catholic Church and many of England’s monasteries were dissolved and countless religious artworks destroyed. The panel retains traces of its original polychrome and is in fine, unrestored condition. It is affixed to a metal plate by which it can be wall mounted.

Provenance: The collection of Sir Michael and Lady Oppenheimer DD (3rd Baronet, British, 1924-2020), Jersey, thence by family descent.