Explore Log in Sign up

Explore

@artherstory.bsky.social Sep 12, 2026, 1:15 PM

The Virgin and Child, c. 1630-40, by #MariaFaydherbe (Flemish, 1587-1643), who was baptized #otd, Sept 12. Held by the Victoria & Albert Museum, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O126716...

#artherstory #womenartists

The physical description on the museum’s object page for this carved alabaster statuette reads, “This small-scale sculpture depicts the standing Virgin supporting the Child, who is placed on an elaborately carved architectural pedestal adorned with a cherub and scrolled ornament. The Virgin holds the Child’s right hand in hers, while her left hand supports him, resting on his left thigh. He holds the orb in his left hand. Both figures step forward with their left feet, looking downwards, smiling, as if the group was intended to be placed above the viewer. The Virgin has abundant hair, coiled up in two plaited buns on each side of her head, and falling down to her shoulders. She wears a cloak knotted at the front, the folds draped over her right arm. The Child wears a simple robe. The back of the sculpture is relatively plain, almost flat, with just a few shadowy folds carved on the back of the Virgin’s dress, implying the group was to be set into a niche or against a wall. It has suffered minor surface damage; marks on the top of both heads suggest that metal haloes may once have been affixed to them. The figures are placed on an integral irregularly shaped rectangular plinth, beyond which the Virgin’s left foot overhangs. It is monogrammed on the reverse at the lower right, the ‘MF S.’ interpreted as an abbreviation for ‘Maria Faydherbe sculpsit.’”

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Community Standards Help Get the app

Grilled Cheese is a product of Village Compute

Version devBuilt at: 2026-10-14 21:33:42 EDT