Devotional Images of the Virgin Mary in Spain
Devotional Images of the Virgin Mary in Spain
- María del Mar Doval TruebaMaría del Mar Doval TruebaIndependent Scholar
Summary
Jesus’s mother occupies a prominent place not only on the altars of churches throughout Spain but also in museums, which are full of masterpieces, in different supports, alluding to the Marian theme. The leading role of the Queen of Heaven has inspired many artists, throughout history and to this day, to develop work related to Mary. The iconography has evolved throughout history, but the theme is still alive. In Spain, devotion to the Virgin Mary is deeply rooted and is present in the vast majority of festivities and traditions that populate the calendar. Hundreds of municipalities celebrate their patron-saint festivities in her honor, including Holy Week, in which a host of image makers, embroiderers, sculptors, painters, and silversmiths combine their talents to show all the greatness of their art in images that move when brought into the streets, leading the faithful to the most absolute devotion. It is not surprising that many varied themes are used in her representation. The most common theme usually refers to the Seven Joys of Mary: Annunciation, Nativity of Jesus, Adoration of the Magi, Resurrection of Jesus, Ascension of Jesus, Pentecost (Descent of the Holy Spirit), and, finally, Coronation of the Virgin. The Coronation theme is possibly the least abundant from an iconographic perspective, but it has provided important examples from very early on. The Pope John Paul II based a good part of his pontificate on Mary, even dedicating to her one of his encyclicals, and she is one of the pillars of the presence of Catholic worship in Spanish society.
Subjects
- Religion and Art