Holy Virgin with Child Jesus - Mechelen/Malines (1500-1510)

Remarkable Virgin with Child dating from the first period of production (1500-15120) of these sculptures in Mechelen/Malines. She has the hallmark of Mechelen on Her back. This first period is defined in the excellent reference work by the Royal Institute for Artistic Heritage ‘Made in Malines, published by KIK/IRPA, Brussels 2019 in the series Scientia Artis n°16’ (referred to hereafter as ‘MiM’) as ‘Sculpted in Mechelen and polychromed in Brussels’ (p. 68) and dates from 1500 to 1510 (p. 216).
From the 600 sculptures that have been analysed by the MiM scientists, only 20% have been sculpted in this period.
These are main criteria to date our sculpture to that earliest period: 1) the dimensions: height 37cm and depth 9 cm. The majority of the statues (80%) from this first period are between 35 and 37 cm high. (MiM p.70). Gradually the height diminishes and in the last fase, the majority is between 28 and 30 cm high (MiM p.56). The depth also diminishes gradually: in the first period it is between 7 and 9 cm and will shrink to 4 and 8cm (MiM p.82). 2) the fact that the sculpted parts extend over both sides and shoulders of the statue: the earliest sculptures were sculpted over the sides (qualified in the book as ‘semi-ronde- bosse’ or ‘almost free standing’) (Mim p. 56 ill. 2.3a ‘Holy Virgin with Child from Saint Louis Art Museum Inv. 58:1937). The later Virgins are much more twodimensional, flatter and the sculpted parts end abruptly without rounding the sides of the body (MiM p. 56 ill. 2.3b ‘Vierge à l’Enfant, Audenarde MOU inv. 112). 3) the dress: the first period Virgins are dressed in the ‘simple’ dress (description MiM p.62) as opposed to the ‘sophisticated’ dress in later period (description MiM p.64). 4) Headdress: the head of the Virgin is crowned with a braid decorated with a ribbon and pearls (MiM p.63).

Wood: walnut. Remains of original polychromy (red, gold, azurite).
Hallmark: heartshaped seal (9x9mm) with 4 cavities and 3 vertical lines, symbolizing the 3 vertical lines of the capital ‘M’ for ‘Mechelen’. In ‘Made in Malines’ it is very similar to the seal on page 164 (ill. 4.4d) from the Holy Virgin with Child on display in the ‘Museum Hof van Busleyden’ (inv. B0175) in Mechelen.
Fragmentary inscription (gold on azurite) at the bottom of the coat of the Virgin ‘A GRA’ from the prayer ‘Ave MariA GRAtia Plena’. Excellent condition.

Bibliography: ‘Made in Malines: Les statuettes malinoises ou poupées de Malines de 1500-1540. Étude matérielle et typologique’ (Irpa/Kik 2019, Scientia Artis n°16), Fanny Cayron & Delphine Steyaert sous direction scientifique d’Emmanuelle Mercier.