The Faces of Mary In Art: Video blog

     Before watching this video, I did not realize how pervasive the classic image of the Virgin and Child truly is both historically and today... The image of the Virgin Mary holding the child Jesus has been represented in many forms, as one might imagine. However, what took me by surprise is the various places where these images can be found.  For example, the video told us that the Franciscan churches in particular have been known for honoring the Mother Mary.  I saw this firsthand last weekend when I took a trip to Assisi... many of the images on the walls were dedicated to her!  The Hagia Shopia (Constantinople, now Istanbul), which is today a museum that presents both Christianity and Muslim religions, also has artwork that presents Mary in a most honorable fashion.
     Venice, "la serenissima" the most serene republic, also had the image presented magnificently.  Certain images had also been carried from place to place, the victim of theft.  Siena is another Italian city that was mentioned in this video as having honorably portrayed Mary and her image with the child Jesus... we saw this firsthand in the chapel at Siena, as well! Oddly enough, the annual Palio in Siena is also a run that is dedicated to Mary! The Sienese people would even pray to Mary to invoke favors through Christ.
     It was also interesting, having taken Art History courses, to consider the different types of mediums that had been used to construct these Virgin and Child masterpieces.. not terra cotta for sure!  The video said that lapis lazuli, which is a very expensive, precious stone, was ground up and used for the color blue in the images... only to be outdone by the pure gold which was also used! It must be nice to bet he Queen!