Virgin And Child In Terracotta Workshop Of Charles Hoyau Circa 1620-1640.

Virgin and Child in terracotta workshop of Charles Hoyau circa 1620-1640.

The quality and sweetness of this Madonna and Child, especially the remarkable face of the Virgin show a work of the best workshops of Le Mans, and particularly of Charles Hoyau, leader of the Mans terracottists. The double chin, a strong nose whose ridge widens slightly in the middle, a mouth with finely drawn lips are elements of comparison, for example with the statues of women of the groups of the Deploration of Le Mans and that of Marolles- the Braults, given to Hoyau and Delabarre, but also with the famous Sainte Cécile of the cathedral of Le Mans. In the field of Virgins and Child, we can compare our work with the Virgin of Cérans-Foulletourte and Fillé, by Charles Hoyau and his workshop, although they follows the favorite model of Hoyau who was the Virgin in marble of Germain Pilon at Notre-Dame de la Couture (1570).

Modeled and cooked in two parts, as is often the case with Le Mans productions. A lack in the back does not question the solidity of the sculpture. However, it should be noted that the two elements that are heavy are simply placed on top of each other.

Some remains of polychromy, showing various eras, and especially on the face of the Virgin.

Accidents and lacks: the head of the Child Jesus, most of the fingers of the hands and feet, the feet of Christ. Lack of drapery and surface exfoliation of the terracotta.

Height: approx. 120 cm Width: 39 cm Depth: 32 cm