Few representations of Mary mother of Jesus and baby Jesus can match this example, regal and sensitive. The carving captures a precious moment between a mother and her baby, as the woman fondly embraces the child. The intense love she feels is expressed through her enveloping touch and her closed eyes.
The face of the youthful Mary emphasizes her tenderness. The protective, caressing gesture of the Virgin's left hand is especially poignant.
Here the focus of the work is on the human and loving mother. The baby Jesus in her arms seems strangely subdued, perhaps contemplating Christ's future suffering. The surface is richly carved with attention to detail: the fringe of the Virgin's mantle, the faces, and the strands of hair of both mother Mary and Child are delicately highlighted.
