This exceptional Gothic polychrome wood sculpture of the Madonna and Child in Majesty is attributed to the �le-de-France School, a prominent artistic tradition that flourished in and around Paris between the late 12th and early 15th centuries. Carved from a single block of wood and hollowed out from the reverse, this piece demonstrates the advanced sculptural techniques characteristic of the period. The hollowing process, a feature commonly employed in medieval ecclesiastical wood sculpture, served both structural and practical purposes by reducing weight and minimizing the risk of splitting over time. The careful attention to proportion and volume, particularly in the rendering of the Madonna's seated posture and the Christ Child's placement on her lap, reflects the refined craftsmanship that was central to religious sculpture in the region. The surface, once vibrantly polychromed, has faded with time, though remnants of the original color suggest that it was once richly decorated to enhance its visual impact within a church or private devotional setting.

The �le-de-France School was at the forefront of Gothic sculptural development, profoundly influenced by the monumental figures adorning the portals of cathedrals such as Notre-Dame de Paris and Chartres. This school emphasized a balance between idealized elegance and solemn religious expression, as seen in the elongated facial features of the Virgin, her downcast gaze, and the stylized drapery that cascades in rhythmic folds. The sculpture's frontal composition and rigid posture align with the formal, hieratic presentation often found in French Marian iconography of the period. The Virgin, wearing a crown as Queen of Heaven, holds the forbidden apple in her right hand, a symbolic reference to her role as the New Eve, whose divine child offers redemption for original sin. The Christ Child, depicted in a tender yet composed manner, originally would have held a gesture of blessing or a sacred object, though some sculptural elements have been lost over time.

By the 14th and 15th centuries, sculpture in the �le-de-France region evolved toward greater refinement and courtly elegance, incorporating elements of naturalism while maintaining a devotional solemnity. This period saw a flourishing of Marian imagery, with depictions of the Madonna and Child commissioned for churches, monasteries, and private chapels. The present sculpture embodies the stylistic principles of the time, with its delicate facial modeling, carefully articulated hands, and the symbolic interplay between mother and child.

Artist: French (Ile-de-France) School
Issued: Circa Late 14th to early 15th Century
Dimensions: 13"L x 10"W x 36"H
Country of Origin: France
Provenance: John and Johanna Bass Collection, New York, NY; Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL, 1963.

Age related wear. Areas of wood worm traces.