Giuseppe Maria Mazza (1653 – 1741)
The splendid "Madonna with Child" is a terracotta sculpture made with great skill and attention to detail in the late Baroque of Bologna.
The composition shows the Virgin Mary standing, with the Baby Jesus held lovingly in her arms. The figure of the Madonna is rendered with a natural and graceful pose, protective and affectionate towards her Son, her face is sweet and serene, characterized by soft features, the eyes reflect tenderness and devotion. The Baby Jesus, in the arms of the Madonna, is rendered with naturalness and vivacity: his body is modeled with particular care, highlighting the softness and roundness typical of children's bodies.
The entire group is conceived as a work "in the round", that is, designed to be admired from every angle. It presents a harmonious and sober compositional balance, without dramatic excesses, but with a simple and pure grace. This makes the sculpture perfect for private contemplation.
The elegant Madonna with Child, datable to the first decades of the 18th century, can be reasonably attributed to the rich and successful production of small terracotta sculptures by the Bolognese sculptor Giuseppe Maria Mazza, one of the greatest experts of the full Bolognese Baroque whose production contributed to defining the evolution of the Baroque style towards neoclassicism.
height approx. 49 cm