French - Opening Madonna Triptych - Walters 71152 - Front Open (2)
Summary
This rare and unusual Vierge ouvrante ("opening Madonna") takes the form of a triptych which, when closed, shows the Virgin enthroned, and, when open, displays scenes from the Passion of Christ. The statuette, unique in the world, was carved around 1200, a date supported by recent scientific tests (including carbon-14 dating) on the age of the ivory.
Although similar in style to sculpture seen on cathedrals near Paris, such as at Sens, original ownership of the Vierge ouvrante can only be traced back to the priory of Boubon, near Limoges (central France), at the time of the French Revolution (1789).
Tags
Date
1850 - 1950
Source
Walters Art Museum
Copyright info
http://purl.org/thewalters/rights/standard