A French Limestone Figure of the Foolish Virgin

Circa 1450

probably originally part of a larger sculpture, perhaps a portal of the Last Judgement, with the Prudent Virgins on one side facing the challenging Foolish Virgins opposed.
Height 35 1/4 inches.

Property from The Brummer Collection from Drs. John and Pat Laszlo, Atlanta, Georgia

Note:

Ernest Brummer (1891-1964) was a renowned art dealer who, along with his brother Joseph, founded the historically significant Brummer Galleries, which held a paramount importance in both New York and Paris during the early to mid-20th century. The galleries played a role in shaping the tastes and collections of art enthusiasts and museums alike, introducing European art to American audiences and vice versa.

This heavily-draped sculpture depicts one of ten figures from the well-known Parable of the Ten Virgins, a popular parable of the Medieval period. According to Matthew 25: 1-13, she is one of five virgins who were unprepared to await their bridegroom and are disowned. The parable and its theme of preparedness for the Day of Judgement was a common subject in painting, sculpture and the architecture of Gothic cathedrals.

Exhibited:

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Centennial Acquisitions: Art Treasures for Tomorrow, February 4 - April 12, 1970

Likely repaired from four large fragments. There are three faintly visible fractures evenly spaced across the body. The repairs are likely 100 years old or older. Other weathering, stains, and discolorations are consistent with age. Chips and roughness throughout. A large chip on her left arm revealing a metal bone from the inside. Additional images are available upon request.

There is no additional provenance beyond what is included in the cataloguing. The figure was in the Brummer collection prior to 1970 when it was loaned to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for the Centennial Acquisitions Exhibition.

Approximate weight 110 lbs.

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European Furniture and Decorative Arts

A French Limestone Figure of the Foolish Virgin

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