Madonna and Child for Statuette, 1923
Eric Gillexpand_more
Wood engravingexpand_more
Anonymous giftexpand_more 2018.96.22
Not on Viewexpand_more
Eric Gill was a major figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement. His efforts to strip his work of extraneous decoration also made him a harbinger of Art Deco. He was a hugely complicated figure, a devout Catholic yet also a sexual libertine, whose practices extended to incest and bestiality. This small image composed of spare, white, elegant lines against a black background recalls the form of a liturgical pax, a holy image meant to be kissed. In the image itself, the Virgin Mary kisses the baby Jesus on the lips, a seemingly innocent act that takes on new dimension in light of Gill’s proclivities.
Details
- Title
- Madonna and Child for Statuette
- Artist Life
- 1882–1940
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2018.96.22
- Provenance
- John E. Andrus III (Wayzata, Minn.); Julie Andrus (Minneapolis, Minn.)
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Skelton P268
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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