Romanesque art contributed consistently to the development of Medieval art in Western Europe. At the same time, Romanesque Art incorporated some elements of ancient Roman art and new elements of the Medieval art that made Romanesque art unique and popular in the 10th-12th centuries. In this regard, it is possible to refer to the artwork Virgin and Child, which is one of the remarkable samples of Romanesque art.
The artist created the work of art is unknown as well as the lifetime of the artist. Nevertheless, the artist was apparently vulnerable to the influence of the traditional Romanesque art. At any rate, the style that may be associated with the artist judging by his work is definitely the classical Romanesque style that embodies maiesta or “majesty”. The work of art is Virgin and a Child that was created in the late 12th century in Auvergne region, France.
Background information
Virgin and Child was created in Auvergne region, France in the late 12th century. The artwork conveys the religious theme depicting Mary and the child, Jesus Christ, on her laps. Virgin seats on a throne with round, Romanesque arches. She holds a child on her laps and serves as a throne for the child. The sculpture stresses the importance of Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ. As she holds the child, she protects him and, simultaneously, she serves a throne for him stressing the divine origin and the power of Jesus Christ. The child looks mature that implies that he has already grown up and ready to start his mission of salvation of the mankind.
The lines of the artwork are mild and round. The throne, which Mary seats upon, has round arches, whereas Mary’s shoulders also look like round, Romanesque arches. The face of Mary as well as the face of Jesus has round shape too. In such a way, mild lines contribute to the domination of round shape and the general form of the sculpture is relatively simple but conveys the internal beauty of the Virgin and her Child.
The color of the sculpture is terracotta, although originally the sculpture was probably covered in bronze, which polished and changed the shade in the course of time. Nevertheless, it is still possible to trace some glistening parts of the sculpture, which indicate to its original color, which probably symbolized the respect of the sculpture to the Virgin and the Child and stressed their importance.
In fact, the sculpture has great value because it was intended to show the importance of Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ. At the same time, this artwork was one of Romanesque sculptures created in the Middle Ages, namely in the late 12th century, that survived till present days that make the sculpture particularly valuable.
The texture of the sculpture is sold for the sculpture is made of oak with polychromy. At the same time, the material has preserved its original form although the coloring of the sculpture has faded.
The space is used rationally for both the mother and the child seat tightly together, the mother holding the child on her laps.
In such a way, Virgin and Child reveal the respect of Medieval artists and people to Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ.
Works Cited:
Atroshenko, V.I. and Judith Collins, The Origins of the Romanesque,p. 144–50, Lund Humphries, London, 1985,
Ischer, Francois. Building the Great Cathedrals. New York: Random House,1998.