Parturient Virgin - Italy 17th century

Charming representation of the Virgin Mary waiting for Jesus, both hands placed on her round and prominent belly.
All the originality of this Virgin lies in the illustration of her maternity: in fact, under the plump belly, appears a small notch where the Child Jesus, hands clasped, curls up in the hollow of his mother.
The facial expression is collected, treated with finesse and imbued with delicate softness. The long, wavy hair falls gracefully over the shoulders and back.
This is one of the rare representations of the Virgin in labor, despite the Council of Trent which demanded, in the 16th century, the exclusion of these images deemed 'indecent'. Today, few of these representations of a “human” Virgin remain.

Dimensions (without base)
H. 25 cm x L. 9.5 cm x D. 8 cm

Italy
Beautiful original polychromy
17th century