Mary of Nazareth became one of the most painted human beings in history because she makes the divine human, becoming the bridge between heaven and earth.When artists paint Mary holding the infant Jesus, they are showing something revolutionary: God as vulnerable, dependent, and loved by a mother.
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The Madonna in art started to embody ideal humanity
showing what a fully open human life looks like, this is what holiness might look like in human form.:
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humility without weakness
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strength without aggression
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obedience without servility
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love without possessiveness
​​On the left we have one of the most influential paintings of Mary, Raphael's Sistine Maddona commisioned for a church in Piacenza. Marry is accompanied by Saint Sixtus (one of the first Popes) and Saint Barbara and perhaps most famously two curious cherubs at the base of the painting.
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What makes it remarkable is that Mary does not appear seated on a throne, as in many earlier paintings. Instead, she seems to be walking out of heaven toward us.​​
In Eastern Christianity, a different tradition of Art developed with the writing of Icons. Icon writing is consciously a spiritual process, often accompanied by spiritual disciplines such as fasting. In the Orthodox tradition, therefore icons are not simply religious paintings; they are considered "windows into heaven." The way Mary is represented shown less as a sentimental mother and more as the woman through whom God entered history.
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There are different types of Icons representing Mary in the Eastern tradition. In our Lady Chapel in Peterborough we have the type of Icon which is called a Hodegetria (She who shows the way). As you can see with the icon on the right, which is very similar to our own, Mary holds Christ on one arm and points towards him with the other hand. Her gesture says: "Do not look at me; look at him."
Like all Icons this is a profoundly theological image. Mary is the guide who leads humanity to Christ. Near Mary's head are the Greek letters:ΜΡ ΘΥ an abbreviation of Mother of God" The Divine Nature in Icons is often expressed by the brilliant gold background.
Some contemporary art has mixed these different traditions as can be seen on the left with the Blue Madonna by Hebridean artist Michael Gilfedder. The official title is 'Mary Mother of God' as Michael portrays the life growing inside of the pregnant Mary, in utero, Jesus is visible as a warmly nestled fetus, cradled by a sweep of gold. Framed inside some of the beautiful stones from the Isle of South Uist , nestling on the edge of the North Atlantic.
The egg-like form that encompasses Jesus is duplicated and enlarged to encompass Mary as well, because even as he is being formed in her, she is being formed in him. Michael was inspired by the sermons of St Augustine 'The Virgin hears, believes and concieves, Faith in her mind, Christ in her womb'
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It’s rare to see the in utero Jesus rendered with anatomical accuracy—and with an umbilical cord! Michael has been very inspired by St John Paul's series of catechetical talks, which became known as 'The Theology of the Body'. You can learn about the work and influences on such a fascinating cotemporary artist through his book 'The Gift of Human Life'.