Eikenhouten sculptuur van de heilige Ursula before 1889

This oak sculpture depicts Saint Ursula and was created anonymously. The sculpture embodies several of the prominent features of the religious art of its time. The veneration of saints was hugely important during this period, with many believed to act as intermediaries between God and the individual. Ursula was particularly important, as the patron saint of students, and her story – of martyrdom for her Christian faith – was often depicted in art as an exemplum. We see her here as a kind of protector to other women. The circumstances of this sculpture’s creation speak to the prominent role of religious institutions in the art world. It probably adorned a church, monastery, or private family chapel. Studying patronage records and religious texts of the period can help us better understand the meanings and uses that objects like this had for their original audience.