standing Madonna in a controposto pose with head tilted to PR slightly, holding Christ child who is seated in the crook of her PL arm; three putti heads with wings at bottom center beneath Madonna's feet; light brown patina; attached to dark wood base with applied floral medallions

Madonna and Child on crescent moon, 17th-18th century

Unknown artist, expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

The province of Goa in western India was under Portuguese control from 1512–1961, forming a nexus in trading routes that circumnavigated the earth. Goan craftsman were renowned for their supple modeling of ivory (likely exported from Mozambique) into Christian icons, which feed the appetite for luxury products in Europe, as well as furthered evangelical missions throughout Asia and the Americas. Within the genre of Indo-Portuguese ivories, popular subjects include ‘Christ as the Good Shepard’ (the image of Christ as child would have related to similar bronze statuettes of the God Krishna) and the ‘Virgin of the Immaculate Conception,’ which shows Mary atop a crescent moon, both of which remain ever-present icons in South Asia’s diverse religious landscape.

Details
Title
Madonna and Child on crescent moon
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2019.10.3
Curator Approved

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standing Madonna in a controposto pose with head tilted to PR slightly, holding Christ child who is seated in the crook of her PL arm; three putti heads with wings at bottom center beneath Madonna's feet; light brown patina; attached to dark wood base with applied floral medallions