Group of women, terracotta, Italy 18th c.

This terracotta, an 18th-century Italian work, depicts a group of three women with very expressive sleeping attitudes.

These are the pious women present under the cross during Jesus' torture, mentioned by John in his Gospels: "By the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary of Magdala" (John 19:25).
These pious women are the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary of Cleophas, Jesus' aunt (as wife of Cleophas, brother of Saint Joseph) and mother of James the Apostle (known as the Minor), and finally Mary of Magdala (Mary Magdalene).
The Virgin Mary is in the center, dressed in a blue cloak in keeping with religious iconography. Her attitude, with head bowed and gaze to the ground, aptly expresses her grief at the loss of her son Jesus. With one knee bent and forearms on either side, she appears on the verge of fainting.
On the right, Mary of Cleophas, her head turned towards the Virgin, her gaze full of compassion, comes to support her, placing one hand on her shoulder and the other on her forearm.
On the left, Mary Magdalene, her hair uncovered, supports the Virgin with one hand and brings the other to her face in a desolate attitude, gazing up at heaven.

The qualities of this terracotta piece lie in the strength of the expressions on the faces, making them realistic, in the very delicate treatment of the sculpture, particularly in the flowing drapery, and in its original polychromy.

Good condition, with restorations and missing parts (Virgin Mary's right hand and the little finger on her right hand).
Dimensions: Height: 28 cm Width: 24.5 cm Depth: 11 cm

Ref: TJB63RY0RR