Madonna and Child with globe

Abstract

This sculpture is an under-life-size representation of the Madonna and Child. Mary stands upright while holding Christ in her right arm and a globe in her left hand. She is clothed in a red dress and blue mantle that drapes heavily around her body. A red-beaded necklace hangs around the Virgin’s and Christ’s neck, though the latter has faded. Coral necklaces were frequently worn round the necks of women and children during the Renaissance and were believed to have protective and talismanic purposes. They were also used as teething instruments for babies. The seated Christ clings to his mother’s dress with his left hand. His right hand has been broken off. The globe held by the Madonna can also be interpreted as a fruit, a symbol of the sin of the Garden of Eden, which is redeemed by Mary and Christ. The iconography of the Madonna and Child with a globe was quite commonly seen in the Alburni area of Campania along the Gulf of Policastro. The statue is in poor condition. Most of the polychromy has chipped and faded, especially on the Virgin’s dress. The sculpture is located in the Museo Diocesano Teggiano. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.