Attribution
Unknown

Polychromy - Gilding
Traces of gilding and polychromy: remains in silhouette of a row of large diamonds with leaf tops which were either painted or gilt, ivy leaf pattern on the Virgin's veil and on her breast; gold (Virgin's hair), brown with gold highlights (Christ's hair).

Reverse
Inscription in red: '35.77.136'.

Object Condition
Missing: right forearm and right foot of the Virgin; right hand of Christ.Hole in the Virgin's head and discolouration on the top, perhaps from a later halo, as well as a bronze pin at the rear (Randall 1993).

Comments
Randall (1993) notes that the hole in her chest (certainly corresponding to the end of the nerve canal), now plugged with ivory, was originally filled with a jewel.

Provenance
Bought from Piero Tozzi, New York, in 1971, thanks to the J. J. Emery Fund.

Bibliography
Cincinnati Art Museum Handbook (Cincinnati, 1975), illus. on p. 84.
Masterpieces from the Cincinnati Art Museum (Cincinnati, 1984), ill. on p. 64.
R. H. Randall, The Golden Age of Ivory: Gothic Ivory Carvings in North American Collections (New York, 1993), no. 207.