Workshop of Friedrich Pacher (active circa 1474-after 1508) South Tyrol, late 15th century

the Child seated on her lap held by her left hand whilst in her right she holds a pear, three winged cherubs heads at her feet

L. Andergassen, Kunstraum Südtirol (Bozen, 2007), illus. p. 110

Overall the condition of the sculpture is very good. The polychromy and gilding has been refreshed and is worn in some places. There is some minor worming, particularly around the base. Due to worm damage, there are two replaced vertical sections to the bottom left corner, visible at the back. The demi-figure of an angel in this section is probably replaced. There are three areas of canvas support to the back and minor areas of canvas suport to the base. The pear and the tip of the Virgin's middle finger of her proper left hand may be replaced.
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Attributed to the workshop of the painter Friedrich Pacher by Andergassen in 2007, this tenderly sculpted group clearly reflects the influence of his master, but no relation, Michael Pacher (1435-1495) as in his Madonna and Child in the Parish Church of St. Lorentzen-Pusterstal, illustrated by Müller. The modelling of the hair, the intricate crown and the treatment to the drapery are distinctive. Andergassen notes even closer stylistic comparisons with the work of Friedrich Pacher who would have worked closely with sculptors when undertaking his commissions for large altarpieces. Andergassen attributes further groups to the workshop of Friedrich Pacher including the once painted figure of St. Margaret in the Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum New York inv. no. 63.12.2. Formerly from the parish church of Saint Margaret im Dorf, Neustift near Brixen, the Cloisters St. Margaret displays a very similar pose, tilted head and bold drapery to those seen in the present impressive group which would almost certainly been originally placed in the central shrine of an altarpiece. 

RELATED LITERATURE
T.Müller, Gotische Skulpture in Tirol (Bozen, 1976) pl. 112; W. D. Wixom, 'Medieval Sculpture at the Cloisters', Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, vol. XLVI, no. 3, p. 26