Artwork

Mary, Jesus and St Francis

Mary, Jesus and St Francis, by Unknown, 1750
Mary, Jesus and St Francis, by Unknown, 1750

Mary, Jesus and St Francis is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. A sculpture depicting a seated woman with a child and a kneeling man is held at the Museum of Ethnography.

About this work

Overview

A sculpture depicting a seated woman with a child and a kneeling man is held at the Museum of Ethnography. Created around 1750, its creator is known as 22338_person.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a woman, identified as Mary, holding the child Jesus, who reaches out to a kneeling figure, likely St Francis. Surrounding figures with wings suggest a heavenly context. The presence of a skull and an open book on the platform's edge may symbolize mortality and devotion.

Technique & Style

The work employs chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a dramatic effect. The figures are sharply defined against a blurred background, with deep shadows accentuating their forms. The overall effect is one of heightened emotional intensity and a sense of the spiritual.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known