German, Bavaria
Saint Dorothea, about 1510-1520
Polychromed and gilded lindenwood, 58.5 cm (23 1/16 in.)
This is a painted and gilded linewood figurine of Saint Dorothea. Her light-skinned face is wide and serious with thinly arched eyebrows, and her high forehead is topped with a golden crown. Four gothic crosses rise out of the crown. Low relief carving adds texture to her long brown hair. She wears a light brown dress with a gold collar and pleats that form at the waist. Her cloak is gold with a black lining. Dorothea’s left hand holds the edge of her cloak and in her right hand she holds a carved brown basket filled with flowers. She stands on a small white circular pedestal.
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.