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Virgin and Child
(Medieval Europe )
The Christ Child and seated Virgin together hold a bird, most likely a European goldfinch. The goldfinch was considered a symbol of the Crucifixion because it has a spot of red on its breast, which, according to legend, was acquired when the bird pulled a thorn out of Christ's Crown of Thorns, and a drop of blood splashed upon it. The Christ Child taking his first step is a popular motif in Swiss sculpture of the 14th and early 15th centuries.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
[Vienna]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1926, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Switzerland, Basel (Place of Origin)
Measurements
7 7/8 x 3 11/16 x 1 9/16 in. (20 x 9.3 x 4 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1926
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
71.109