Focus on this artwork and discuss the Description.
The sculpture, made of oak, is 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) tall. Mary is depicted wearing a sumptuous blue garment with gold edging, gathered over her right shoulder. Underneath she wears a white underdress. There is a tall golden crown with five heraldic fleurs-de-lis on her head, which are interpreted as a symbol of the Trinity. The naked Baby Jesus is held in her left arm. He bends away from his mother, looking towards the viewer.
The significance of the statue is its theme of writing: the child holds a quill in his right hand and on his knee he has a scroll, which unfurls down to his feet. In her right hand his mother holds his inkpot, from which the sculpture gets its name. The writing baby on his mother's arm is not a biblical motif, but the "learning Jesus" appeared in Medieval art in the Middle Ages. It is natural to think of the Book of Life in which the names of the saved are inscribed by Jesus. Mary, therefore, is shown to have contributed by providing the "material" for this saving work. The inkpot might also indicate that the Baby was already full of wisdom.
scroll Mary Middle Ages Baby Jesus Trinity inkpot fleurs-de-lis Book of Life saved Medieval art motif quill