(_Detail_)
The Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, has for over nineteen centuries
represented to Christendom all the ideal qualities of womanhood. In her
character, as revealed in St. Luke's gospel, we read of her noble,
trustful humility in accepting the message of the Annunciation; of her
decision and prudence shown in her visit to Elizabeth; of her
intellectual power as manifested in the song of the Magnificat; of the
contemplative nature with which she watched the growth of Jesus; of her
maternal devotion throughout her son's ministry,--and of her sublime
fortitude and faith at his crucifixion.[22] Such was the woman so highly
favored of God, she whom the angel called "blessed among women."
Art has pictured for us many imaginary scenes from the life of Mary. The
most familiar and best loved subject is that of her motherhood, where
she is seen with her babe in her arms. There are other subjects, less
common, showing her as a glorified figure in mid-air as in a vision. One
such is that called the Immaculate Conception, which the Spanish
painter Murillo so frequently repeated.[23] Another is the Assumption,
representing her at her death as borne by angels to heaven.
The "Golden Legend" relates how "the right fair among the daughters of
Jerusalem ... full of charity and dilection" was "joyously received"
into glory. "The angels were glad, the archangels enjoyed, the thrones
sang, the dominations made melody, the principalities harmonized, the
potestates harped, cherubim and seraphim sang laudings and praisings."
Also, "the angels were with the apostles singing, and replenished all
the land with marvelous sweetness."[24]
The Assumption of the Virgin is the subject of a noble painting by
Titian, one of the most celebrated pictures in the world. A group of
apostles stand on the earth gazing after the receding figure of the
Virgin as she soars into the air on a wreath of cloud-borne angels. From
the upper air the Heavenly Father floats downward with his angels to
receive her. As the canvas is very large, over twenty-two feet in
height, a small reproduction of the entire picture is unsatisfactory,
and our illustration gives us the heart of the composition for careful
study.
[Illustration: Picture from Carbon Print by Braun, Clément & Co.
John Andrew & Son. Sc.