Mary and Jesus at the Cross, C. Early 20th Century Painted Plaster Relief on Wood antique powder box to reveal the white body

to reveal the white body beneath

and with this great wagging pink tongue hanging out

with a very small old loss to one corner

Very well done and quite striking

Mary and Jesus at the Cross, C. Early 20th Century Painted Plaster Relief on Wood antique powder box to reveal the white bodyI think likely this is Italian, as painted plaster reliefs of Catholic scenes seem very often to have been, and I believe it dates to the earlyish 20th century. It has been through it, with the plaster chalkware cracked in several places and otherwise well worn, but that makes it seem all the more right to me, and actually quite holy feeling! I love the faces, and the hands, and the gold paint, mixed with deep blue on Mary's skirt, and just right