Virgin Mary with Her Catholic Symbols Retablo Painting

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Painting Title – The Virgin Mary with Her Symbols and Attributes Spanish Colonial School Medium - Oil on Wood Dimensions - 11 in. x 8 in. Weight - 8 ounces Provenance - Estate collection. Many of the symbols that soround the Virgin Mary in this convnet painting are borrowed from the Litanies of the Virgin, and from certain texts of the Canticles. The STAR. This attribute, often embroidered in front of the veil of the Virgin, or on the right shoulder of her blue mantle, has become almost as a badge from which several well-known pictures derive their title, "La Madonna della Stella." It is, in the first place, an attribute alluding to the most beautiful and expressive of her many titles : " Stella Maris," Star of the Sea, which is one interpretation of her Jewish name, Miriam ; but she is also " Stella Jacobi," the Star of Jacob ; " Stella Matutina," the Morning Star ; " Stella non Erratica," the Fixed Star. When, instead of the single star on her veil or mantle, she has the crown of twelve stars, the allusion is to the text of the Apocalypse already quoted, and the number of stars is in allusion to the number of the Apostles.' The LILY. " I am the rose of Sharon , and the lily of the valleys" (Cant. ii. 1, 2). As the general emblem of purity, the lily is introduced into the Annunciation, where it ought to be without stamens : and in the enthroned Madonnas it is frequently placed in the hands of attendant angels, more particularly in the Florentine Madonnas ; the lily, as the emblem of their patroness, being chosen by the citizens as the device of the city. For the same reason it became that of the French monarchy. Thorns are sometimes interlaced with the lily, to express the " Lilium inter Spinas" (Cant. ii. 2). The Rose. She is the rose of Sharon, as well as the lily of the valley ; and as an emblem of love and beauty, the rose is especially dedicated to her. The plantation or garden of roses is often introduced ; sometimes it forms the back-ground of the picture. There is a most beautiful example in a Madonna by Cesare di Sesto (Brera, Milan ) ; and another, " the Madonna of the Rose Bush," by Martin Schoen. (Cathedral, Colmar .) The WELL always full ; the FOUNTAIN forever sealed ; the TOWER of David ; the TEMPLE of Solomon : the CITY of David (Civitas sancta) (Cant. iv. 4, 12, 15) ; all these are attributes borrowed from the Canticles, and are introduced into pictures and stained glass. The PORTA CLAUSA, the Closed Gate, is another metaphor, taken from the prophecy of Ezekiel (xliv. 2). The CEDAR of Lebanon (Cedrus exaltata, " exalted as a cedar in Lebanon "), because of its height, its incorruptible substance, its perfume, and the healing virtues attributed to it in the East, expresses the greatness, the beauty, the goodness of Mary. The victorious PALM, the Plantain " far spreading," and the Cypress pointing to heaven, are also emblems of the Virgin. The MIRROR (Specula sine maculâ) is a metaphor borrowed from the Book of Wisdom (vii. 25). We meet with it in some of the late pictures of the Immaculate Conception. Good luck bidding! INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE, check you shipping costs before bidding. We have shipped over 20,000 packages overseas safely; please read our recommendations below! INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DELAYS AND ATTEMPTS TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE CAN ONLY BE KNOWN WITH TRACKING INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH EXPRESS MAIL SERVICE. 1- WE PREFER TO SHIP OVERSEAS WITH EXPRESS MAIL SERVICE, OR BETTER . WE WILL MAKE AN EXCEPTION IF YOU AGREE TO BE 100% AT RISK FOR LOSSES, AND DELAYS USING CHEEPER METHODS LIKE PRIORITY MAIL; IT’S UP TO YOU. 2 - Your countries customs tax, or VAT tax, is your responsibility, so please find out what it may be before bidding. In some countries the cost of shipping, is added to the cost of the item, when calculating the tax. 3 – We NEVER profit from shipping. You pay our... read more

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