At the end of the month I am going to Leuven (Louvain) to see the 14thc
Vesperbild orginally, I believe, from the Vleminckx Chapel but now in the
Municipal Museum.
What is unique, as far as I know, about the group is that the BVM is nursing
the body of Christ on her left side in marked contrast to other Pietās of
the period or subsequently, at least until Cindy Sherman's 1990 photo.
Although Campin, Riemenchneider and Stoss, among others, portrayed the BVM
carrying an infant Christ on her left arm I can find no Schmerzmutter doing
a similar thing.
Do any of the learned members of this list know of any other "left-handed"
BVMs and do you have any idea why the supporting left arm is common for a
Virgin and Child but not for a Vesperbild?
John Hall
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