The dead Christ with the Virgin, St John and St Mary Magdalene; a Pieta

myminifactory

The figure of the Dead Christ rests firmly on the shoulders of the Virgin and St John the Evangelist, with St Mary Magdalen standing alongside. The group was crafted in five distinct pieces. To fit into the kiln for firing, the figure of Christ was divided from its companions, the hands of St John and the Virgin remaining intact. However, the clay body of Magdalen cracked during the initial firing, likely due to air trapped within expanding when heated. This necessitated a change in approach, as a second firing for tin-glazing was no longer possible. Instead, the figure was carefully painted. Upon acquisition, the group's history revealed that it had once adorned a private chapel in Siena. Gallery location: Sculpture 1300-1600, Room 26, case FS This object is part of "Scan The World," an initiative pioneered by MyMiniFactory to create a free digital archive of fully printable sculptures and artworks from around the globe. Scan the World is a collaborative effort, relying on community input to grow its collection. If you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn more about how you can participate. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London