Virgin and Child Jesus, walnut sculpture, Belgium (Mechelen) ca 1500-1510

Virgin and Child Jesus (Mechelen/Malines, Walnut, 1500-1510 / remnants of original polychrome and marked on the back).
In the early 16th century, Malines (or Mechelen) was a highly influential centre in the Southern Netherlands for the production of religious artefacts, particularly wood carvings. These works were often destined to be placed in churches, private chapels, or in noble and bourgeois homes for personal devotion.

The workshops in Mechelen were renowned for their ability to carve realistic and expressive figures, which contributed to their popularity throughout Europe. The Virgin and Child is one of the most common subjects produced by these workshops. It was used to symbolise divine maternity and the tenderness between mother and child, as well as recalling Mary's central role in Christian history.