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Madonnas A Catalog of Mary Images: Mary, The Blessed Virgin and mother; Mary Magdalene and assorted figures By Laurie Fox Pessemier 2019
Inspiration
Painting Maries is the craziest thing I’ve ever embarked on. I am not sure I am very good at it, but I feel compelled to do this. The world needs a mother. A Jewish mother (Mary, along with Jesus, was a Jew); a WASP mother, a Black mother: a mother of plants and animals and a guardian of the earth. We call this earth our mother, and how do we treat her? We need a mother who will hug us and say, “Hey, take it easy. Use your head.” My own mom wasn’t’ always available to do that, but my Grandmother did, and my Godmother, Aunt Franny. A lot of people can be your mother, but few have the qualifications: Generosity, Selfless-ness, Love.
Immaculate Conception
Mary was the Immaculate Conception of St. Anne. Mary’s father was God. Medieval legend held that Anne was married three times: first to Joachim, who died before the birth of Mary, then to Cleophas, and finally to a man named Solomas. Each marriage produced one daughter: Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary of Clopas, and Mary SalomÌ (who was mother to John the Apostle and Evangalist.
The Duomo in Milan is dedicated to the Birth of Mary, which is celebrated on 8 September.
In the south of France, there is legend that Mary of Clopas, and Mary SalomĂŚ were set adrift in a boat after the death of Jesus, and landed on the shores of the Camargue at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. There is a city dedicated to them and this story; every year there is a festival in their honor at the end of May.
This painting was inspired by a Persian depiction of the Madonna and Child. I found many Chinese renditions, as well, brought to the world by the Jesuits.
Mary is the only woman who appears, by name, in the Quran.
Mary is everywhere in Italy, in corner shrines (like the one on the opposite page), on churches and on many home exteriors. Just across the road from our house, neighbors just got a new Mary plaque, executed in ceramic, by Sandra of Zocca. (left)
I can find at least 50 examples of Mary just around our own community of Rocca Malatina. In fact, we have at least ten Mary images in our own house. This one by a recent Belgian artist. (right)
Icons
Icons are decorative images of Mary and Child, usually associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church. Many early icons were destroyed in the 8th and 9th centuries, when the Orthodox Church was worried about worshipping “idols�. Some Icons are paintings under decorative gold or silver covers; others are mosaic, or just painted and gilded on wood. They imply portatbility.
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene is the antithesis of Mary, Mother of Jesus. Mary Magdalene was “fallen woman”, a prostitute, redeemed by Jesus. She is depicted with long, curly hair and is shown with a jar of myrrh, to anoint the body of the dead Christ. Or sometimes, she is shown with a colored Easter egg. The legend is that after Jesus’ ascension to heaven the Magdalene journeyed to Rome. During a banquet, with Tiberius Ceasar, she told the tragic circumstances of Jesus’ death, and how he had risen from the dead. While testifying to his resurrection, she picked up an egg from the table. The Roman emperor responded, a human being could no more rise from the dead than the egg in her hand turn red. Actually, the egg miraculously turned red.
Mary is the theme of countless churches, in all of her different persona: Immaculate Conception, Blessed Virgin, Holy Mother; from Notre Dame (Our Lady) cathedral in Paris, to her post atop a village church guiding sailors to Port-en-Bessin. (below)
Two modern “Mother and Child� portraits by Blair Pessemier
There is something remarkably touching in all mothers and babies. That need to care for and nurture, to risk all for the future.
I first began thinking about Mary when I saw the sculpture of The Crying Maries in Bologna, Italy. Le Marie Piangente sul Cristo Morto (1463) by Nicolò dell'Arca, is in the church of Santa Maria della Vita (Via Clavature, 10), just a few steps away from Piazza Maggiore. I bring many visitors there, and each time I am struck by Mary, Mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene; Mary, mother of John the Baptist, and Mary Clopas, aunt of Jesus. It is a forceful sculpture which leaves a lasting impression.
Image
Name Madonna on Blue by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Material size Acrylic /canvas
Inspiration Rome
72 x 53” 189 x 135cm
Queen Mother by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Mary 8 December by Laurie Fox Pessemier Immaculate Conception by Laurie Fox Pessemier Milan CatherdralL aurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Pale Madonna by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Our Lady Icon by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
SaintesMaries-dela-Mer Laurie Fox Pessemier Madonna Reclining Child by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Farfa
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Acrylic/ Newspaper 25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Acrylic/ canvas 20 x 24” 50 x 60cm
Striped Madonna by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Street Madonna by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Material size Acrylic/ Newspaper
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Private collection
Milan
Madonna Icon by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Jewelled Icon by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Madonna 2 Saints by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Silver Madonna by Laurie Fox Pessemier Madonna Magliano by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Our Lady of Vladimir
SaintesMaries-dela-Mer
Nativity
Nonatola Emilia Romagna
Verucchio EmiliaRomagna
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
Rome
Imagination
Inspiration
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
Madonna of Protection By Sandra
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
Name
Immaculate Conception
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
17 x 25” 41 x 63cm Acrylic/ Newspaper
Image
Zocca EmiliaRomagna
Vescovio
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Icons
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Icons
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Acrylic/ Newspaper 25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
Icons
Magliano Madonna Protection
Black Madonna by Laurie Fox Pessemier Persian Madonna by Laurie Fox Pessemier Mary Magdalene with Egg by Laurie Fox Pessemier Colorful Magdalene by Laurie Fox Pessemier Magdalene by Laurie Fox Pessemier Notre Dame Paris Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper 25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Acrylic/ Newspaper 25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Acrylic/ Newspaper
Black Madonna
Persian Madonna
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Acrylic/ Newspaper 25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Acrylic. Linen 13 x 16” 33 x 46cm
Mother + Daughter Blair Pessemier
Acrylic on wood 7 x 13”
Three Generation s Blair Pessemier
Private collection
Mary Magdalene
Camel family by Laurie Fox Pessemier Sheep and lamb by Laurie Fox Pessemier
Acrylic/ Newspaper
Piero della Francesca
Painted en plein air
Le Marie Piangente sul Cristo Morto
Painted en plein air
18 x 33cm Private collection
Mary Magdalene
25 x 17” 63 x 41cm Acrylic/ Newspaper
Mary atop Port-enBessin by Laurie
17 x 25” 41 x 63cm Acrylic/ Newspaper 25 x 17” 63 x 41cm
Saudi Aramco World photo Sabina
Laurie Fox Pessemier lives with her husband and dog in Italy, where Madonnas proliferate.
Images are for sale on Etsy, www.etsy.com/shop/PessemierStudio/items or through me, Lfpessemier@gmail.com This book is dedicated to Laurie’s mom, “Shorty” Fox.