Madonna, 17th century
Wood
(H x W x D)136 × 58 × 28 cm
About the workIn order to make their sculptures appear more lifelike, Spanish artists in the seventeenth century resorted to very vivid means. They adorned their figures with ivory teeth, for example, or, as can be seen here, glass eyes. Unlike their fellow artists in Italy or north of the Alps, who were free to decide on their commissions, Spanish sculptors at this time were often in direct service to the church. With their realistic sculptures, they aimed to give the divine human features, in order to impressively convey religious teachings to the faithful who were unable to read or write.
AccessionAcquisition 1927
Provenance[...]; bis spätestens 20.8.1927 Antiquariat Oskar Ulmer, Meersburg-Bodensee, Altes Schloss; 20.8.1927 ehem. Kunstgewerbemuseum Düsseldorf (1883-1927) angekauft vom Antiquariat Ulmer; 1927 übernommen aus dem Kunstgewerbemuseum
Inventory numberP 1927-18
