Virgin Mary, Mater dolorosa, Our Lady of Sorrows

This model is based on a 3D scan of the Seated Virgin Mary (also known as Mater Dolorosa or Our Lady of Sorrows), originally sculpted in 1586 by Germain Pilon. The piece is noted for its elaborate and deeply layered fabric folds, with the veiled figure of Mary seated in mourning. The original marble sculpture resides in the Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis in Paris, where it is partially recessed into a niche and traditionally viewed only from the front. This scan was made available through Scan the World, an open-source archive of cultural artifacts.

I imported the .stl file into Bambu Studio, re-oriented the model for optimal slicing and stability, and leveled out the underside to optimize adhesion. I also maximized the model’s scale for A1, P1, and X1 printers. Supports were minimized to preserve detail and increase speed.

Printed in Elegoo Marble PLA using the Generic High-Speed PLA profile. After printing, I used a file and fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out areas where supports were removed, especially around the hem, hood, and base, maintaining the dramatic texture of the folds while improving overall finish.

Note: Tall prints can lose adhesion in the final moments. Please wash your build plate prior to printing. Or consider scaling down 10%. I've also had really good luck using BIQU Cryogrip Pro Frostbite build plates.