Madonna and Child FILIPINO (Mis-attributed as Continental) 17th - TopicsExpress

Madonna and Child FILIPINO (Mis-attributed as Continental) 17th Century (Mis-attributed as 19th century) Ivory with traces of parcel gilding and polychromy Height: 40.64 cm or 16 in. Provenance: Neal Auction Company, New Orleans. April 21, 2012 sale Sold for the charitable benefit of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Collection of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Veritas House. New Orleans A classic 17th century Philippine rendition of the Madonna and Child. Solid ivory with traces of polychromy and gilding. The Madonna leans slightly to the right following the prehensile curve of the ivory tusk. The Virgin cradles the infant Christ child with her left hand while grasping his right foot with her right hand. This gesture is consistent with similar rendering of the Philippine images of the Madonna and Child in imitation of the style carved by the great Spanish baroque sculptor Juan Martinez Montañez. The Virgins ears are pierced for aretes or earrings. The Christ child is shown half sitting, half standing on the crook of his mothers arm in the posture of the Salvador del Mundo (Savior of the World). He wears a long tunic covering his legs and belted at the waist. His tunic is accented by a notched collar with pointed ends. He holds an orb symbolic of the world on his left hand. His right hand is upraised with two fingers held up in benediction. The small ivory cross topping the orb is now missing. The Virgin is modeled standing and wearing voluminous robes. Her hair is parted in the middle as is consistent with similar rendering of Philippine images of the Virgin. It gathers in ropy clusters and falls in ropy clumps at the side of her face and at the back. The hair clusters terminate at the back in tight curls with up-swept tips. The hem of the Virgins mantle crosses her torso laterally from the right, gathers left and is tucked under the child. The edges of the Virgins mantel hangs loosely on the left side terminating in soft gentle folds. The vestiges of a belt cinched around her waist is visible but covered by the figure of the Christ child. The Virgins tunic is decorated by a round-neck collar accented with small, perforated circles. This collar on the Virgins tunic is consistent with similar images of the Madonna and Child made during the 17th century. The eponymous tuck or suksuk in the back is not present. The Virgins gown terminates in gently bunched folds at the feet allowing for part of the right foot to peep through the drapery. Condition is good for its age. Several age cracks present and loss to gilding and polychromy. The Virgins left eye is missing. The cross topping the Christ childs globe is missing and so is the childs thumb. Otherwise, in fine state of conservation.