Virgin of Paris, Stone statue in the 4th arrondissement, Paris, France
The Virgin of Paris is a 14th-century stone sculpture standing nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall, depicting the Virgin Mary crowned and holding the Child Jesus, who grasps a globe symbolizing his dominion over the world.
Originally housed in the Saint-Aignan Chapel on the Île de la Cité, this 14th-century statue was transferred to Notre-Dame Cathedral in 1818 to replace an earlier Virgin sculpture destroyed during the French Revolution.
Poet Paul Claudel experienced a profound spiritual conversion near the statue during Christmas Vespers in 1886, describing the moment as an ineffable revelation that transformed his faith and left a lasting mark on French religious literature.
The statue is permanently positioned against the southeast pillar of the cathedral's transept, where it has remained since 1855, and survived the devastating 2019 fire that severely damaged Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The sculpture's facial features convey a dual expression of joy and sorrow, reflecting the theological contrast between the hope of Christ's Nativity and the impending grief of his Calvary, embodying complex emotions within a single serene visage.
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