Relief depicting Le Pietà Ivory Portugo-Singhalese

An ivory panel carved in relief with a tableaux scene of Christ in the arms of the Virgin Mary, his lifeless body supported by St John on the right and Mary Magdalene on the left. The Virgin is portrayed looking straight out at the viewer, her head, covered in a heavy mantle and surrounded by a radiant halo, is tilted to one side to invite pity. Her right hand can be seen on the shoulder of Christ while her left arm embraces his waist covering his nakedness with her mantle. A similar radiant halo surrounds Christ's head as it rests on her shoulder. The kneeling figure of Mary Magdalene bows her head caressing Christ's hand as if to kiss it. Her simple pleated robe is decorated at the neckline and her long hair is uncovered. St John, also kneeling, a supporting hand on the arm of Christ, gazes as if contemplating the scene, wearing a simple collared tunic and mantle. The halos of St John and Mary Magdalene are similar in shape, an oval sprouting from the crown of the head with radiating elements which is a feature of Portugo-Singhalese imagery. The cross behind the figures bears the nail holes and a plaque inscribed I.N.R.I ('Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm') and the whole is enclosed within a border top and bottom painted with floral motifs.

Compare the style of the imagery to an example published Margarita Mercedes Estella Marcos, Ivories from the Far Eastern Provinces of Spain and Portugal, Monterrey, 1997, p. 290, cat. 167.