French
Female Saint, 19th century
Polychromed and gilded wood, 58.7 cm (23 1/8 in.)
This French sculpture of a light-skinned female saint is made of wood decorated with multiple colors and gilding. The figure is standing, looking up. She is holding an open book in her right hand and her left hand is placed near her stomach. There are many folds in her scoop-necked dress, which appears mostly bluish-green, and in her cloak and headpiece, which appear mostly gold. Some of the decorations have faded or loosened over time, and there are some cracks in the wood, such as in the left hand. The back of the figure is rather flat, with less detail than the front.
Chapel
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.