Seated Virgin and Child (Throne of Wisdom)

“The Romanesque wood statue of the Virgin in Majesty focuses the medieval vision of Christian divinity in a concise expression of the Incarnation dogma. The statue presents an enthroned Mother and Child. It is small, somewhat under life-size, yet monumental in portraying the sedes sapientiae, Throne of Wisdom, a complex concept wherein the Virgin is seen in majesty, hence called Maiestas, and is understood as both the Mother of God and the cathedra or seat of the Logos incarnate. As a mother, the Virgin supports her son in her lap, yet as the Mother of God she serves as a throne for the incarnation of Divine Wisdom. Thus Christ’s humanity and divinity are equally apparent in the image so that it expresses clearly and simply the profound meaning of the Incarnation.

The roles of the Throne of Wisdom statues were variously interpreted according to locale and occasion. The size and material suggest that they were highly portable. Within the church, the statue was sometimes placed on the altar in a crypt, upper church, or at the sanctuary, which would have been viewed from all sides. In the twelfth century the relic compartment was acceptable as an accessory feature of the Majesties, however never a requirement. Mobility allowed the statues to be carried in processions which served a variety of purposes. Such processions were a form of public devotion, served to attract pilgrims, offered the occasion to solicit funds for the church, and in a time of distress, encouraged public morale. Additionally, embedded within sources, chronicles, and charters are medieval accounts of devotional practices and miraculous immunities towards the statues.” (Michele McElderry, notes in curatorial file for 12.SP.02)

Sources:
- Michele McElderry, notes in curatorial file for 12.SP.02.