Capitolium Art, Brescia, 15 juin 2017: n°519 (ill.)

Collection particulière belge

The ivory used for the creation of this Virgin and Child was probably exported from Mozambique to the Portuguese territories of the Indian subcontinent—Goa and Sri Lanka—where, from the 16th century onwards, a highly refined production of luxury ivory objects developed, particularly intended for a European clientele. Moreover, from the 16th century, missionary orders—especially the Jesuits—built churches and sought to convert the inhabitants of India. Such a sculpture of the Virgin and Child thus served to illustrate the liturgy and to disseminate Christian imagery.

This sculpture may be compared to a Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, dated to around 1650, as well as to a Saint Anne and the Virgin and a Saint John the Baptist, dated to around 1700, in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London—it more closely shares the style of the latter two (inv. A.60-1949, A.34-1940 and A.61-1927). The Virgin Mary is often depicted standing on a crescent moon, as here, or triumphing over a dragon, two symbols derived from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament.

*Information to the buyers :

In accordance with current regulations, the ivory lots have an intra-community certificate and are in free circulation within the European Union. Export outside the European Union (excluding Monaco) is prohibited.