Enthroned Virgin and Child

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Among the early images in the West to emphasize the motherly rapport of the Virgin Mary to the Christ child, this devotional sculpture is exceptional for its well-preserved polychromy. Recent conservation treatment removed overpaint, revealing the extraordinary finesse of the original decoration. The abundant use of gold underscores the regal nature of the figures, while the detailed rendering of the faces makes their humanity palpable.

Medieval Art and The Cloisters

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world. Displayed in both The Met Fifth Avenue and in the Museum's branch in northern Manhattan, The Met Cloisters, the collection encompasses the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome in the fourth century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the early sixteenth century. It also includes pre-medieval European works of art created during the Bronze Age and early Iron Age.

Metropolitan Museum of Art