Virgin of the Immaculate Conception

A stoic Virgin combines typical European attributes of the Immaculate Conception—crown and crescent moon—with the streamlined elegance and facial features of Indian sculpture. Created in Ceylon, an island off the southeastern coast of India (now Sri Lanka), this ivory sculpture reflects the spread of Catholicism in Asia, yet it honors the region’s traditional aesthetic. Today, the majority of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, but approximately 7% practice Catholicism.