Paris, France
Around 1325–50
Carved ivory with 18th-century ebony backing
180 x 110 x 8 mm
This is a frequent pairing of scenes in Gothic ivories. The artist contrasts the tenderness of the Virgin Mary holding the Child with the anguish of the Crucifixion.
Viewers are encouraged to connect the two scenes – when the diptych is opened, Mary appears to look directly at her son on the cross. The Child’s crossed feet also prefigure the Crucifixion.