O Mundo de Claudia: Symbols of the Virgin Mary

December 07, 2004

Symbols of the Virgin Mary

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisboa Painted between 1540 and 1560 by an unknown author.

The painting shows Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus and Mary's parents: Saint Joachim and Saint Ann. The woman kneeling is probably the one who donated the painting to a convent in Lisbon.

What I like about this painting is that displays a profusion of symbols of the Virgin Mary. The traditional symbols of the Virgin Mary are a common sight in most religious works of this period but this one has the particularity of having perhaps a more pedagogical approach similar to some engravings I have seen from several Books of Hours. On each symbol is painted a ribbon or a caption in latin, thus easying the interpretation of the observer.

Some of the symbols are references to the litanies of the Virgin, namely the Litanies of Loreto. A litany is a devotional prayer for two or more people gathered together. The principal phrase is said or chanted by one person, and the responses by the others in unison.

These symbols are sometime referred to as the "names of the virgin" for which the book Song of Songs from the Old Testament was the main foundation or source. There are a number of references to deuterocanonical books too.

The ribbon beneath God and amidst the angels has the following inscription: "TOTA PULCHRA EST AMICA MEA ET MACULA NON EST IN TE".
This is Song of Songs 4:7, meaning "This is Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee."

The sun's and the moon's captions are "elect ut sol" and "pulchra ve luna", from Song of Songs 6:9
"Quae est ista, quae progreditur quasi aurora consurgens,
pulchra ut luna, electa ut sol,
terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata?"

"Who is this that looks forth like the dawn,
fair as the moon, bright as the sun,
terrible as an army with banners?"

The star's caption is "stella maris" from the hymn "Ave maris stella" found in the Hours of the Virgin.

	"Speculum sin macula", a mirror. Book of Wisdom 7:26 "Candor est enim lucis aeternae et speculum sine macula Dei maiestatis et imago bonitatis illius" "For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness."
	"Fons Ortorum", a fountain. Song of Songs 4:15 "Fons hortorum : puteus aquarum viventium, quae fluunt impetu de Libano." "A garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon."
	"Cipressus in monte sion", a Cypress. Sirach 24,13 "Quasi cedrus exaltata sum in Libano et quasi cypressus in monte Sion" "I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Sion."
	"Liliu inter spinas", a lily. Song of songs 2:2 "Sicut lilium inter spinas, sic amica mea inter filias." "As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens."
	"Civitas dei", the city of God (Jerusalem). Psalm 86:3 "gloriosa dicta sunt de te civitas Dei diapsalma" "On the holy mount stands the city he founded;"
	"Virga iesse floruit", branch in blossom. Isaiah 11:1 "et egredietur virga de radice Iesse et flos de radice eius ascendet" "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots."
	"Plantatio rose", a rose. Sirach 24:18 "et quasi palma exaltata sum in Cades et quasi plantatio rosae in Hiericho" "I was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant in Jericho"
	"Puteus Aquarum Viventium", a well. Song of Songs 4:15 "Fons hortorum : puteus aquarum viventium, quae fluunt impetu de Libano." "A garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon."
	"Cedrus Exaltata", a cedar tree. Sirach 24,13 "Quasi cedrus exaltata sum in Libano et quasi cypressus in monte Sion" "I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Sion."
	"Turris david cum propugnaculis", Tower of David. Song of Songs 4:4 "Sicut turris David collum tuum, quae aedificata est cum propugnaculis : mille clypei pendent ex ea, omnis armatura fortium." "Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an arsenal, whereon hang a thousand bucklers, all of them shields of warriors."
	"sperius"??? still googling for this one...

Posted by claudia

Comments

Perhaps there's a message in there that only a few can decipher? People have been having visions of the Virgin Mary all over the world (well, mostly catholics) - and not many can decipher those either!

Posted by alkam at December 9, 2004 10:56 PM