Mourning Virgin

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval collection, the *Mourning Virgin* a poignant South German limewood sculpture from 151–20. Carved by an unknown artist, this intimate devotional figure captures the Virgin Mary in a moment of profound sorrow, likely lamenting the crucified Christ—a theme central to late Gothic piety. Standing just over a foot tall (13 x 8 7/16 x 4 13/16 in.), its modest scale suggests it was crafted for private prayer or a small altar, evoking personal devotion amid the spiritual fervor of early 16th-century Germany. Limewood, a soft and fine-grained wood fa...