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Beautiful Virgin Mary from Krużlowa

Beautiful Virgin Mary from Krużlowa is a Gothic limewood sculpture from the early 15th century and a fine example of the Beautiful Madonnas of late Gothic art. The unknown woodcarver created the 119 cm high figure for viewing from three sides; the back is deeply hollowed to protect the wood from cracking. It shows Mary standing in contrapposto with richly folded clothing, holding the naked Child, who has an apple. Discovered in 1889 in the parish church in Krużlowa Wyżna, it was acquired by the National Museum in Kraków in 1899. Since October 2007, it has been part of the collections of the Archbishop Erazm Ciołek Bishop's Palace in Kraków.

Beautiful Virgin Mary from Krużlowa, a crowned Madonna sculpture in golden robes holding a naked infant and a golden orb.
The Beautiful Virgin Mary from Krużlowa, shown as a crowned Madonna holding the infant Jesus.
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Madonna of Krużlowa holding the Christ Child, shown in flowing gold and red robes.
The Madonna of Krużlowa, a Gothic sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child.
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Krużlowa Madonna with a child, wearing a golden crown and robe
The Beautiful Virgin Mary from Krużlowa, shown in a close-up with the child and golden crown visible.
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Close-up of the crowned Madonna of Krużlowa with painted face and colorful robes.
Close-up of the Beautiful Virgin Mary from Krużlowa, showing the crowned figure’s painted face and ornate robes.
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Rosy-cheeked baby figure holding a golden orb on a dark textured surface.
Detail of the Madonna of Krużlowa showing a rosy-cheeked child holding a golden orb.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleBeautiful Virgin Mary from Krużlowa
Alternative nameMadonna z Krużlowej
TypeGothic sculpture
Iconographic typeBeautiful Madonna

Historical context

Date of creationc. 1410, usually dated to the early 15th century
StyleSoft style of late Gothic art, within International Gothic

Creator

ArtistUnknown

Physical characteristics

Height119 cm
Depth18 cm
ProportionsHeight-to-depth ratio 1:7

Materials

MaterialLime wood
Surface finishPolychromed; later covered with at least three layers of oil paint

Technique

ConstructionWood carving, hollowed out from the back; front solid, back unfinished
Intended viewingDesigned to be viewed from the front and both sides

Appearance

Spatial effectThe staggered drapery creates an illusion of depth and three-dimensionality
CompositionMary and the Child’s faces are at nearly the same height and share similar facial features
ClothingMary wears richly draped garments with a deep neckline and festoon-like sleeve folds
PoseMary stands in pronounced contrapposto
Depicted subjectVirgin Mary with the Child Jesus
Child JesusNaked, holding an apple

Discovery and provenance

Original locationChurch of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krużlowa Wyżna, Lesser Poland, Poland
Possible earlier provenancePossibly intended for a major church in Kraków; exact original provenance is unknown
Relocation hypothesisProbably moved to Krużlowa in the 17th century, possibly replacing by Baroque sculptures
First documentary records1607 and 1766
DiscoverersWładysław Łuszczkiewicz and Stanisław Wyspiański
DiscoveryFound in 1889 in the parish church in Krużlowa Wyżna

Location and ownership

Church locationsOriginally in the high altar, later moved to the vestibule/entrance and finally kept in the attic
Current locationNational Museum in Kraków, in the Bishop Erazm Ciołek Palace collection since October 2007

History and restoration

Condition when foundPoor condition, with bark beetle damage and multiple layers of oil paint
Museum acquisitionPurchased by the National Museum in Kraków in 1899
Display historyFirst exhibited in the Sukiennice in Kraków; since 1924 displayed in the Town Hall Tower
World War IIConfiscated by German authorities in 1940 and placed in Hans Frank’s office at Wawel; restored by a German named Kneisel in 1942–1943
Postwar recoveryRecovery after the war is uncertain and disputed; versions place it in a depot at Wawel Castle in 1945 or in the residence of a senior Nazi dignitary near Munich

Significance

Historical assessmentA major example of the Beautiful Madonnas and one of the most important works of late Gothic sculpture in Poland