"Seat of Wisdom (Sedes Sapientiae)". Carved, polychromed and gilded wooden sculpture. Late Romanesque. Circa 1300.

"Seat of Wisdom (Sedes Sapientiae)". Carved, polychromed and gilded wooden sculpture. Late Romanesque. Circa 1300.
Interesting example of a Spanish Seat of Wisdom, which still maintains the characteristics of the Romanesque Sedes Sapientiae, such as in the way it faces forward, the hieratism and the throned, seated posture in which the Virgin Mary forms a throne for her son. However, traces of a maternal/filial relationship can be observed, as well as a slight intention to sweeten Mary’s features, which show a shy smile.
The Child is already slightly off centre, and Mary moves close to him, resting her left hand on his shoulder, but there is no communication between them yet.
The Madonna holds a fruit in her right hand, and the Child gives blessing with the right hand, while holding the Holy Scriptures in the left.
The elaborateness of the throne which is in two heights, with a footstool, and the richness of the polychroming, are outstanding. The Virgin Mary wears a tunic from under which a fine embroidered blouse sticks out, and she wears a cloak in reddish tones which matches the tunic which covers the Christ Child.
One of the index cards in the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid which describes a 13th century Image of the Madonna and Child in its collection contains a very interesting reflection on the role of women in the church. It says:
"Traditionally, the church has attributed an ambivalent role to women. On the one hand, it considered Eve to be responsible for introducing sin into the world. On the other, during the central centuries of the Middle Ages, the figure of the Virgin Mary was reclaimed for her fundamental role in men’s redemption which, through her, redeemed women too. The hundreds of images of the Madonna and Child, such as this one, made in Europe from the 11th century, show the predominance of this latter, more positive, facet of Christian mentality. The 12th century Cistercian monk Bernardo de Claraval greatly contributed to the expansion of the Virgin Mary’s new role, and, thus, that of women". (http://www.man.es/man/exposicion/recorridos-tematicos/museo-femenino/18-virgen.html)
Height: 55 cm.