Stone sculpture

The National Monuments Service's description

On the crest of a hill in undulating terrian, in grassland. The sculpture is in the ditch of a field boundary which forms the SW portion of a burial ground (TS071-011006-). It is possible that the stone was brought here from elsewhere, as in the 19th century it appears to have been in the garden of the house nearest the burial ground (Mullally 1862-3, 148). This sculpture consists of a limestone slab (0.64m x 0.58m; D 0.19m) on which a pieta is carved in high relief. On the dexter side of Our Lady's head is carved IHS and on the sinister side MARIA. This sculpture appears to be that noted by Mullally (1862-63, 7) though he erroneously describes it as representing 'the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in her lap'. The carving depicts the Virgin enthroned with the crucified Christ draped across her knees. The Virgin's face is badly worn and the facial features are barely distinquishable. She is wearing a voluminous veil which she is holding with her right hand at chest height, while her left hand is supporting Christ's head. Her robe is pleated, with folds falling down from her knees. Christ is depicted wearing a loincloth, loosely draped, his left arm hangs down while his crooked right arm is resting on the Virgin. The carving is described in detail by Cahill (1982).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

References

Mullally, M. 1862-3 Proceedings. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland 7, 146-8, 246-50.

Cahill, M. 1982 The archaeology of the Barony of Middlethird, Co. Tipperary. Unpublished M. A. thesis.