Virgin of the Annunciation in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, March 2009

Virgin of the Annunciation
Limestone with traces of paint
French, Paris
Carved about 1300-1310

Accession # 17.190.739

Interrupted in her spiritual meditations, Mary modestly recoils from the archangel Gabriel (now lost), whose message announces the birth of Jesus. The statuette's sensitively carved features, slight smile, elongated proportions, and graceful draperies show stylistic analogies to courtly art in Paris. The carver of the sculpture also likely produced works for the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.