Statue of Virgin Mary 1748

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, a leading sculptor of 18th-century France, created this marble Statue of the Virgin Mary. Pigalle lived in a time of aristocratic excess which saw traditional representations challenged, making the emotional depth of this sculpture remarkable. The statue depicts Mary holding the infant Jesus. Mary’s face is etched with a sense of foreboding, as if she already knows the fate that awaits her son. Pigalle masterfully conveys both the tenderness of a mother-child relationship and the weight of a destiny. Consider that during this period, motherhood, particularly for women of the popular class, was fraught with high infant mortality rates and societal expectations. Pigalle perhaps captures the universality of maternal love and the quiet sorrow that often accompanies it. This is not just a religious icon; it's an exploration of human emotion, rendered in stone. The statue invites us to reflect on the burdens and joys of motherhood, and how these intimate experiences intersect with broader themes of life, death, and sacrifice.