Plaque with the Virgin Mary as a Personification of the Church

Plaque with the Virgin Mary as a Personification of the Church

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This splendid carving is one of the largest single ivory panels to survive from Carolingian Europe. The spindles in Mary’s left hand often appear in depictions of the Annunciation, as she receives the news that she is to be the mother of Jesus. The military appearance of her dress and the cross-topped scepter she holds suggest that she could also be understood here to represent the triumph of the Church. The curious juxtaposition of the figure of Mary as the recipient of the Annunciation and as the symbol of the Church is unique to this ivory plaque. Recent cleaning of the ivory has revealed the exceptional beauty of the rhythmic drapery.

Medieval Art and The Cloisters

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Plaque with the Virgin Mary as a Personification of the ChurchPlaque with the Virgin Mary as a Personification of the ChurchPlaque with the Virgin Mary as a Personification of the ChurchPlaque with the Virgin Mary as a Personification of the ChurchPlaque with the Virgin Mary as a Personification of the Church

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.