Madonna and Child

The wooden sculptural depiction of the Mother of God with the Infant Christ is executed in the traditions of sacred plastic arts. The artwork is vertically elongated and features a frontal arrangement: the slender figure of the Virgin Mary holding the Child on her left arm creates an impression of monumentality, while simultaneously imbuing the image with a sense of maternal closeness. The Virgin Mary appears as a young woman with individualised features. The restrained expression of her face is meticulously rendered, showcasing a soft oval shape with a well-defined chin, a high forehead, a light flush on the cheeks, and small, clear eyes. The saint's hair falls in long, graphically incised wavy tresses along her shoulders and onto her chest. The sacred status of the subject is emphasised by a crown upon her head. Her gaze is directed forward, possessing a character of inner focus devoid of excessive emotionality.
The garments of the Mother of God cover her entire body. They are modelled with heavy folds that create a complex rhythm of vertical and diagonal deeply carved lines. In the lower section, the drapery of the Virgin Mary's robes seamlessly transitions into an architectonic base. The rendering of the textiles becomes particularly dynamic here, with the wavy contours of the folds creating an illusion of movement. Seated on the Virgin Mary's left arm is Christ, carved as a lifelike, almost tangibly palpable child. His right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing, while the other is open and extended towards the viewer. The nude body of the Infant Christ is treated volumetrically, with an emphasis on the childish roundness of forms.
The compositional expressiveness is heightened by the contrast between the figures of the saints. In this sculptural composition, the Virgin Mary emerges as the Queen of Heaven, yet her pose and the softness of her gestures simultaneously reveal her maternal nature. Christ is presented not merely as a sacred figure, but also as a child – alive, mobile, and spontaneous. The synthesis of grandeur and humanity lends the artwork a unique emotional resonance.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery