Madonna and Child 1630 - 1665

Alessandro Algardi crafted this small, delicate sculpture of the Madonna and Child in the 17th century, using white wax. Algardi was a key figure in Rome's artistic scene, during a period when the Catholic Church wielded considerable influence. The serene, idealized figures of Mary and the infant Jesus were a popular theme, reinforcing the Church’s doctrines about motherhood, divinity, and the family. The whiteness of the wax conveys purity and spiritual grace, while the intimate scale suggests it was made for private devotion, perhaps commissioned by a wealthy Roman family. To understand this sculpture fully, we delve into the social history of 17th-century Rome. We consider the role of religious institutions like the Catholic Church in shaping artistic production. We research Algardi's patrons and the function of small devotional objects within the domestic sphere. Only then can we start to grasp the meaning of this small sculpture within its original context.