VISUAL THEOLOGY

Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, 18th century, Hispano-Philippine, Ivory, partly polychromed and gilded, with glass eyes and silver halo. Chinese ivory carvers in the Philippines and on the mainland as well produced numerous religious figures for export to Spain and the Americas via the Manila Galleon route. Although conforming to the iconography of the Catholic church (such as the pose of this Virgin), their Asian origin is usually unmistakable in their physiognomies as well as the style of their drapery The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) ■