Our Lady of Humility is a visualization of the passage from the Book of Revelation (Chapter 12):
“A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
The star on Our Lady’s cloak (shown three times in an icon) shows that Our Lady is a virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus and refers to her perpetual virginity.
In Ancient Rome pregnant women wore veils to denote their altered state of life with new life growing within them. The veil was adopted by Christian nuns to denote their new state of life of total consecration to God with the life of Christ growing within them. In this painting, the veil honours both the state of marriage and the state of consecrated life.
The crown of twelve stars affirms Our Lady’s honour of being Queen of heaven and earth. The number twelve unites both the twelve tribes of Israel from the Old Testament, and the twelve apostles of the New Testament.
The modern painting is a replica (with some adjustments) of the original work done by Lippo di Dalmatio, circa 1390 who worked in Bologna. It is located in the National Gallery, London, England. The modern work is done on an 11″ x 14″ wood panel using egg tempera paint with 22 karat gold leaf. The modern work is in a private collection.
Written with the grace of God.
Patricia Ballard 2008