The Gothic Painting of the Mother of God With Infant Jezus and Angels in the Cistercian Convent Museum in Szczyrzyce

Abstract

The painting of the Mother of God with Infant Jezus and angels in the Cistercian convent museum in Szczyrzyce belongs to Polish Gothic pictoral art.

The early history of the painting is difficult to ascertain because there is a lack of data. Later references relate it to the Cistercian's church and monastery in Szczyrzyce.

The painting is one of a few created at that time in Małopolska on the theme Regina Angelorum. It indicates a new approach, and it is an archetype for later paintings of Angelic Madonnas. It is the first do introduce the theme of Regina Coeli and Regina Angelorum, which is later taken up in different ways in triptychs in Włocławek and in Szaniec.

Compared to typical Cracow region paintings of that period, the iconography used in this picture is a definite novelty. Mary's glory in heaven as the Queen of Angels is the main topic of the painting. The dignified figure of Mary receives the adoration of angels, who greet her saying : Ave Regina celorum.

The crescent moon at her feet emphasizes her celestial position and it makes her The Apocalyptic Woman. Semantically, the golden background and the angels and the banderole symbolizing rays correspond to radiant glory, which is expressed by the word and the shape. A meadow with flowers as the divine garden means paradise and it also has the second sense – flowers symbolize the virtues of Virgin Mary.