Virgin Supported by Saint John 16th century

This limewood sculpture of the Virgin Supported by Saint John was created by the School of Antwerp. Antwerp was a booming commercial center in the 15th and 16th centuries, so it's not surprising that an industry grew up there to supply the demand for religious imagery. This sculpture would have been commissioned by a church or wealthy patron for private devotion. We see John offering solace to Mary, perhaps after witnessing the crucifixion. This kind of overt display of emotion would have been relatively new at the time. The use of limewood, while easier to carve than other woods, signals that this was not the highest end product, and it is likely that the sculptor was not a highly trained master. Nevertheless, this sculpture reveals the humanity of the Virgin Mary and Saint John. By looking at the archives of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke we can learn more about artistic production during this time. These kinds of resources help us to understand the social conditions that shaped the making of art.