The Coronation of the Virgin
The Coronation of the Virgin
The Coronation of the Virgin is a subject in Christian art especially popular in Italy in the 13th to 15th centuries. The subject became common as part of a general increase in devotion to Mary in the Early Gothic period and continues to today.
The belief in Mary as Queen of Heaven obtained the papal sanction of Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Queenship of Mary (Ad Caeli Regina) on October 11, 1954. It is the 5th Glorious Mystery of the rosary.
The original painter, Giacomo di Mino, completed the work circa 1340-50. This modern painting is an enlarged version of the original central panel of his triptych most probably made for a Lady Chapel. The modern painting measures 33.5″ x 55″, is painted on gessoed wood, with egg tempera paint using 22 karat gold leaf, and is now located in the Annunciation Chapel of the John Paul II Pastoral Centre in Vancouver, B.C.
Written with the grace of God from 2017-2020. Patricia Ballard 2020
The Annunciation
The Annunciation depicts the Virgin Mary at home contemplating scripture when suddenly the Angel Gabriel appears to her and asks her to become the Mother of the Word of God (Luke l: 26). In the heavens above, God is sending the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove to ‘come upon her’. At the top left of the composition Adam and Eve are being sent out of the Garden of Eden and Eve looks towards the future scene of the fulfilment of God’s promise to send a Redeemer.
The original painter, Ilario da Viterbo, completed the painting circa 1393. It is located in the Portiuncola in the Basilica of Santa Maria Degli Angeli in Assisi (over the altar of the little church inside). In the modern painting, I added the expulsion of Adam and Eve to Ilario’s composition. The scene of Adam and Eve’s expulsion is ‘quoted’ from Fra Angelico’s Annunciation of 1426 located in the Prado, Madrid.
The work is painted with egg tempera paint on a wood panel using 22 karat gold leaf and was completed between 2010 and 2013. It measures (framed) 28″ x 27.25″ and is located in The Annunciation Chapel of the John Paul II Pastoral Centre in Vancouver, B.C.
Written with the grace of God from 2010-2013.
Patricia Ballard 2014
Our Lady of Humility
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
Our Lady of Tenderness
Our Lady of Tenderness is an icon. The original is called the Vladimir Mother of God which is now located in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia. Our Lady holds Jesus close to her cheek. She looks out to the viewer and Jesus looks deeply into her eyes. There is a feeling of tenderness between Jesus and Mary.
Our Lady holds Jesus with one hand and with the other points us to her Son. The three stars on her robe (one is behind Jesus) refer to her perpetual virginity as she is virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus.
The Greek letters MPOV (abbreviations for Mother of God) are placed on the right and left of Mary’s head. The abbreviated Greek letters in Jesus’ name are written near his head. The Greek letters on Jesus’ halo are short for the words meaning ‘I AM WHO I AM’ and proclaim his divinity.
The modern icon is written with egg tempera paint on a wood panel (7″ x 9″) with 22 karat gold leaf.
Written with the Grace of God.
Patricia Ballard 2004