Madonna and Child in alabaster – Trapani 16th century

Very pretty Virgin and Child sculpted in the round, in alabaster, from the 16th century.
The Virgin is represented in a standing position, carrying the child Jesus on her left arm. He turns his face towards his mother and clings to her in a tender movement.
Mary wears a dress with large, turbulent pleats falling to the ground, the drapery of which mingles with Jesus' tunic, elegantly marrying the forms of the child.
His face with fine features and almond eyes, outlines a slight smile.

Our statuette is inspired by a marble statue of the Virgin, attributed to Nino Pisano (circa 1315-1368) or his workshop, kept in the SS Annunziata Church, in the Chapel of the Fishermen, of the former Carmelite convent from Trapani.
This life-size sculpture was the subject of an important pilgrimage in Sicily, and its fame led to the execution of numerous replicas, in particular in alabaster, acquired as souvenirs by pilgrims who will spread all over the world.
Nora Guggenbühler (istituto svizzero blog) also cites that from 1412, Sicily being part of the Viceroyalty of Spain, Trapani played an important political role as a strategic naval base.
Crowds of soldiers, traders and sailors pass through the coastal city daily. Many of them acquire a miniature of the famous Madonna who – according to legend – would have already saved many believers from the dangers on the high seas.
In addition to serving as souvenirs of pilgrimage, miniature replicas of this miraculous image were also used to found new places of worship.

Dimensions
H. 38 cm x W. 13 cm x D. 6 cm

Sicily – Trapani
Alabaster
16th century
(heads of the Virgin and the Child formerly reattached)
This sculpture can be proposed on a black base
Dimensions of the base
H. 9.5 cm x W. 17 cm