French Pieta, Polychrome Carved Wood, 17th Century

Pretty pieta in polychrome and gilded wood, carved in the round.
The Virgin is depicted in a seated position, tenderly supporting her son with her right hand.
She is gentle and peaceful.
Marie is wearing a veil, she wears a wimple and a long golden dress.
Christ is simply dressed in his perizonium. His face is bearded with curly brown hair.
It emerges from this statuary group an attitude of beautiful serenity.

Walnut
Auvergne
17th century


Historical Annecdote :
The iconographic theme of the Pietà appears in Germanic countries in the middle of the 14th century.
It is formed by the Virgin, seated, holding Christ lying on her knees.
In the first representations we always find the Virgin carrying the body of her son on her knees. From the Renaissance, artists concerned with the logic and proportions of bodies, began to represent Christ lying at the feet of the Virgin, with only his head resting on his knees. According to the representations, Christ may or may not have the crown of thorns, he may simply be dressed in his perizonium or wrapped in a drape.