Our Lady of Montserrat

Currently not on view

Our Lady of Montserrat

18th century

Artist/maker unknown, Mexican

In the background of this painting is a serrated ridge aptly named Montserrat (Mons Serratus in Latin), the famous mountain in Spain that was known as the site of the miracle of the Black Virgin. According to legend, a statue of the Virgin and Child that had been hidden in the mountain during the Moorish invasion of A.D. 717 was later miraculously rediscovered by shepherds. Both France and Spain have a long tradition of Black Virgins-statues or paintings of the enthroned Virgin and Child with dark complexions. Believers attributed the darkening of the faces to miraculous causes and related it to the Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) in the Old Testament, particularly the line, "I am black, but beautiful" (Song of Sol. 1:5).

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Our Lady of Montserrat

Date:

18th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Mexican

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

60 1/4 × 53 3/16 inches (153 × 135.1 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

The Dr. Robert H. Lamborn Collection, 1903

Accession Number:

1903-912

Geography:

Made in Mexico, North and Central America

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Currently not on view