Artful Lowlights

These two wooden sculptures in the medieval collection of Prague’s National Gallery housed in the Convent of St. Agnes appear to be in frank discussion. They could be marveling over Agnes, who as youngest princess of the realm sidestepped two engagements and founded a convent in 1231. Or they could be swapping stories of their original hair, eye and lip color. More than half of all sculpture in the medieval period were wooden and sculptors touched up their creations with artful lowlights.