Help ID rosary saint

  • Thread starter Thread starter howmanyds
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
This one is pretty obvious. It is definitely and unambiguously Mary, at the moment immediately before Gabriel appeared to her (or immediately after). She is dressed as a young girl, and kneeling and praying with her hands folded in front of an open book, which is a common setting for late Medieval and Renaissance Annunciation scenes. Here an explanation:

"In Gothic and later art in the West, Annunciation images drew inspiration from another remark in Pseudo-Matthew: “She was always engaged in prayer and in searching the law” (chapter 6). We now see Mary either studying scripture at a book-stand ([example](https://www.christianiconography.info/Europe 2017/Salamanca/catherineDoorBello.annunciation.html)) or kneeling with a book at a prie-dieu ([example](https://www.christianiconography.info/Edited in 2013/2013 trip/annunciationMuestair.html)). Sometimes the book is open to Isaiah 7:14, “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel”

From here:

https://www.christianiconography.info/annunciation.html

Here are some Annunciation paintings which show the scene:

https://www.paintingstar.com/philippe-de-champaigne-the-annunciation-s117421.html

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-annunciation-auguste-pichon.html

https://www.paintinghere.com/painting/francesco_albani_the_annunciation_23997.html

and there are hundreds more like this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=ann...hUKEwjQu4eukL_oAhXpj3IEHfkuC3UQ9QEwAHoECAwQMA
 
Last edited:
Definitely not Mother Seton, she is always depicted with a bonnet, never seen her with a shawl in the religious images.
 
Thank you all for your ideas and thoughts!!
@Jbrady, thank you for the links showing the medieval depiction of the Annunciation.

I believe you are most likely correct!

Blessings!
 
My guess is that it is actually the Blessed Mother under her mantle as Our Lady of Divine Love.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Reason, 2000 was the Great Jubilee (Iubilaeum 2000).

During that Jubilee, the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love (just outside of Rome) was part included as part of the Seven Churches of Rome pilgrimage in 2000 (replacing St. Sebastian Outside-the-Walls).

However, it could also be St. Cecilia, since she was part of the Jubilee in 2000. But I think it’s supposed to be Our Lady of Divine Love in prayer (I’ve never seen St. Cecilia depicted with head coverings).



 
Not so sure about it. Usually in the Annunciation the hands are crossed on the breast of Mary or the palms are open toward the angel. I can hardly remember the hands so static and clasped like in this image.
 
aroosi said:
Usually in the Annunciation the hands are crossed on the breast of Mary or the palms are open toward the angel.
Click to expand...
There is no iconographic significance in the particular position of her hands beyond indicating that she is either praying, studying or welcoming Gabriel. Peruse the links I provided above and you will encounter many different hand treatments, including the folded hands position seen on this rosary, like here:

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1...faWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=627&q=80

The limited space available to the artist who created this medal makes this compact position a logical choice.
 
Last edited:
Clasped hands are in late representations; there is In fact an iconographic meaning in Mary’s gesture in the depiction of the Annunciation (see link for detailed explanation).
The image in the picture reminds me more of the iconography of First Communion in vintage holy cards or some other generic representation of a pious person.

https://www.christianiconography.info/annunciation.html

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Last edited:
could be this too… The picture could simply be a member of the faithful at prayer.
 
aroosi said:
Clasped hands are in late representations (see link below).
Click to expand...
Yes. This particular image was created in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The iconography is the same and unambiguous: Young girl praying in front of an open book clearly indicates Mary at the Annunciation. The fact that this is exactly what you would expect to see on a rosary, in which Gabriel’s greeting is repeated fifty times, pretty much seals the deal.
 
I understand your point and it could likely be the Annunciation (mostly for the open book and because Rosary is a Marian devotion) but the Medieval images you linked in the first post were not really supporting your case. By the way, since I think that like me you love art, check out the perpetual Rosary thread in this forum. There are about 8k posts, each one with a different image depicting the Blessed Mother or the various mysteries of the Rosary in different centuries and cultures. Hope you will enjoy it. God bless.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top