Maria Immaculata 1765 - 1775

This is a porcelain sculpture of Maria Immaculata, made in the late eighteenth century by the Fulda Pottery and Porcelain Manufactory in modern-day Germany. The sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary standing on top of a globe with a serpent coiled around it. It reflects the visual codes of Catholic imagery, which would have been very powerful in that time. The Fulda Manufactory was supported by the local Prince-Bishop, who aimed to establish Fulda as a center for artistic production, in part to rival other European courts. Princely patronage of the arts was linked to political power, and porcelain production became a symbol of cultural sophistication. The Virgin Mary was a symbol of the Catholic Church, and its global reach. Art historians consider the institution of the church as a major factor in the artistic production of the time. By studying documents from that period, such as letters and financial records, we can learn more about the conditions under which this sculpture was made.