French Pieta In Carved, Walnut, Late 15th Century

Very beautiful pieta from the south of France sculpted in the round.
The Virgin is depicted in a seated position with her hands folded tenderly bent over her son.
Marie's face has a thin nose, small mouth, high cheekbones and pretty almond-shaped eyes.
The Virgin has a long robe covered with a mantle with broken folds.
Christ is simply dressed in his perizonium. He wears a stylized crown of thorns.
We find on her face the same delicacy as in that of the Virgin: the eyes are stretched out, the cheekbones are high and the mouth is small. Her face expresses a beautiful serenity.

Note the attention to detail in the sculpture of the body of Christ: there are three drops of blood escaping from a wound and the stigmata of the nails of the cross on the hands and feet.


Work from the south of France
Walnut with beautiful patina
Period late 15th century
(some gaps on the toes of Christ)