Heart of Mary

ClassificationsPaintings-oils

Datec. 1750

Made AtMexico, Central America, North America

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions30 x 22 x 1 1/2 in. (84.5 x 58.4 x 3.8 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Wood

Object number89.22.2

DescriptionOil painting titled "Heart of Mary"; formerly hung in the Mission Inn, Riverside, Ca. The subject of this painting is the life of Christ and the Holy Mother, specifically it depicts the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. This devotion refers to the image of Mary as the Sorrowful Mother and is a prayer about the hardship and sorrow she felt throughout her life. Mary’s seven sorrows are: the prophecy of Simeon, the flight to Egypt, the loss of the child Jesus in the temple, witnessing Jesus carry his cross, the crucifixion, removing Jesus from the cross, and the burial of Jesus. Each of the six circles surrounding the image of the heart frames one of the seven sorrows. The image above the heart of the crucified Jesus Christ is not in circle, but is located in the middle of all of the other events, representing one of the most sorrowful occurrence in Mary’s life. Scripture suggests that Mary’s soul would be pierced as a result of the events that would occur in her son’s life. Usually, artistic representations of this scriptural passage show an image of Mary with a dagger or sword through her chest. The artist instead depicts the heart pierced by swords that branch out from each of the seven scenes of sorrows.

On View

On view

Collections