Gilded leather "Cuir de Cordoue" Virgin and Child, 18th century

-This gilded, embossed leather tile depicts the Virgin and Child in a central medallion set against a background of cut flowers.
The Virgin Mary, standing amidst brownish clouds, wearing a red dress with a blue mantle, carries the Child Jesus on her left arm and holds the scepter in her right hand.

This medallion is set against a background of flowers; roses, lilies and marigolds can be distinguished - French work from the early 18th century - Among the orientations of the Council of Trent, the importance given to the Eucharist and its celebration through the Mass had a major influence on the layout of churches and the evolution of their furnishings. As the focal point of the nave and then of the chapels, where they multiplied, the altar and altarpiece were the object of much attention and embellishment.
The altar had to be as sumptuous as its proximity to the mystery of transubstantiation demanded. On this parallelepiped piece of furniture, the side visible to the faithful was sculpted or covered with a more or less precious covering, depending on the means of the parish or the donor. This could be painted canvas, embroidered or embroidered fabric, or gilded leather.

-Gilded leather is the material of this antependium. Only the addition of the religious scene in the medallion makes it possible to identify this type of object as the central panel of an altar frontal, as most painted and gilded leathers were used to upholster entire rooms, such as wall hangings. This antependium originally consisted of several panels stitched together to form a large rectangle (three to six tiles were usually required to obtain the desired width). The tile shown here was the central element, the only one decorated with a religious scene. Before being distinguished by the presence of a medallion, this skin panel had been, like the others, tanned, glued, completely covered with silver leaf and then with a yellow varnish based on vegetable resins, giving it the appearance of gold.
To obtain the relief, the technique used in this case was repoussé. Each panel was placed on a recessed mold, with the gold side against the mold. Under the weight of the press, the leather was pressed into the hollows of the die. The repoussé process created a pronounced relief, visible here in the flowers. The chasing technique, similar to stamping, is used to enrich the decorations, and was applied to the background (repetitive geometric motifs).

Similar works include the Musée de Chaumont's Italian antependium depicting the Virgin and Child appearing to Saint John the Baptist and Saint Anthony of Padua (Italy, 1697)https://saisonsculturelleschaumont.fr/evenement/tour-de-loeuvre/
-Bibliography: Jean-Pierre Fournet "Cuirs dorés, cuirs de Cordoue : Un art européen" 2019Raphaêl Carreau "Dévotion baroque : Trésors du musée de Chaumont, Amérique Latine, Espagne et Italie, XVIIème - XVIIIème siècle" 2010

-Presented as is, with one tear (see photo).

Dimensions :
width: 57 cm, height: 58 cm
(with frame) width : 76 cm, height : 78 cm

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Ref: EWCJMMBJ83