Collection record · Objects & craft
The Immaculate Conception
The collection record classifies this work as sculpture. It is dated c. 1765. Recorded culture or place: Germany, Würzburg, 18th century.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- The Immaculate Conception
- Date
- c. 1765
- Culture / origin
- Germany, Würzburg, 18th century
- Materials and technique
- painted wood
- Dimensions
- Overall: 43.2 x 30.4 cm (17 x 11 15/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Johann Peter Alexander Wagner (German, 1730–1809)
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1963.674
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
This work has been associated with Johann Pieter Wagner, one of the leading Austrian sculptors of the second half of the 18th century. Because of its small size, it was most likely either a model for a larger altarpiece or an object designed for private devotion. Gold serves as celestial decoration around the border and on the figures. The Virgin Mary stands upon billowing clouds held up by angels, a variant on the Madonna of Victory, which features Mary or Jesus holding a spear. Mary holds the infant Jesus, while trampling a serpent-symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The holy child holds a bouquet of flowers, representing his ability to bestow grace, expressing the benevolence associated with the cult of the Immaculate Conception.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Gift of Mrs. Betty Mont and Frederick A. Mont · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
Open the complete museum record View the open-access policyTHE VISITOR BOOK
What caught your eye?
Opening the visitor book…
