Virgin and Child with St. John the Baptist

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux

19th century · Plaster · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

According to legend, in 1008 the Virgin Mary encircled the city of Valenciennes with a protective cord, thus saving the citizens from the plague. Carpeaux sketched this group upon his return to Paris from his native Valenciennes, having attended the consecration of the church dedicated to the Virgin's miraculous intervention.

Artist

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux

Date

19th century

Medium

Plaster

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Eugene V. Thaw, 1998