Madonna from Maryland
17” x 16” x 3.25” – 2001
Positioned in a wooden “IN” box are a
blue-glazed ceramic Madonna face, a darkened car mirror, a test tube
filled with red coral tree seeds, and a row of wrought iron cut
nails pounded into a board. Hanging below is a car license tag from
Maryland.
Meaning:
From Northern Renaissance Art History:
Many believed that God impregnated Mary through her ear (hearing the
Word plants the seed), and thus many Renaissance artists depicted
Mary turning her head aside when hearing from the Angel Gabriel that
she would bear the Christ Child. The nails in the board represent
Christ’s crucifixion. The red coral tree seeds in the
phallic-shaped test tube represent the seed of the Word. The mirror
represents a darkened image of Everyman. |