Photos of the Gothic Virgin Mary Madonna & Child Art

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Photos of Medieval Gothic Virgin Mary Madonna & Child Art – Christian Madonna & Child Statues & Paintings. Photos by Photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of Medieval Gothic Virgin Mary Madonna & Child Art

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Photos of Medieval Gothic Madonna and Child Paintings & Sculptures.

Virgin Mary Madonna & Child Iconography

Depictions of the Madonna and Child has always been very popular in Christian iconography.

In its early forms in Eastern Orthodox iconography a notable example ia the Theotokos Icon. This depicts the Virgin Mary holding the baby Christ who is making a blessing with his hand.

The Eastern Orthodox Church allowed other Icon depictions of the Virgin and Child which formed the basis of early Roman Catholic paintings.

Roman Catholic Madonna and ChildArt

The Roman Catholic Church drifted away from the Eastern Orthodox Church which led to a schism in 1054.

The Roman Catholic Church encouraged more realistic depictions in religious art. Gothic art saw a humanistic approach to depictions in art.

The Gothic Madonna and Child

This was especially noticeable in the depiction of the Madonna and Child. Depictions of the Virgin Mary were more human imagery and she was depicted as an affectionate mother. The Virgin Mary was shown cuddling the infant Christ swaying him from her hip. She was also dressed in the refined manner of a well-born aristocratic courtly lady. The Gothic depictions contrasted with earlier depictions based on rigid Byzantine iconic styles.

One of the most important Madonna and Child paintings was by Duccio di Buoninsegna. This iconic image of the Madonna and Child, seen throughout the history of western art, holds significant value in terms of stylistic innovations of religious subject matter that would continue to evolve for centuries.

The Cult of the Virgin Mary

The Gothic depictions increased the popularity of the cult of the Virgin Mary. The naturalistic depictions of the Madonna and Child increased the idea of the closeness of the Virgin Mary and her Child Jesus. People began to pay to the Virgin Mary to intercede on their behalf with Jesus.

The artistic convention was born of Madonna and Child paintings depicting a confident Virgin Mary gazing is directly out at the viewer. In these depictions she serves as conduit for prayers that flow from the person praying, to her, and then, to her son Jesus.