Day Twenty-three: Mary

 

Of course, Mary is a prominent figure in every depiction of the Nativity. It couldn’t happen without her. But Brueghel makes it clear that her role is to enable her son to do his work. She looks down at the Wise Men, as they present their gifts, holding Jesus so that he can acknowledge them.

She has a gentle smile, and looks deep in thought, clad in the blue robe she often wears in paintings. Blue pigment was made from crushed lapis lazuli, which was very expensive. Medieval painters chose to paint her in blue because it was the most valuable colour they had, so it signified her importance to Christians. 

In reality, we know very little about Mary, what her background was, or why she was chosen. The tendency has been to make her whatever we want her to be. What she certainly was, however, was a brave young woman who said “yes” to God despite the cost she would bear.

For Reflection

Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2.19

What do you think Mary is thinking here? What words might she be treasuring and pondering?

Are there words people have said to you which you have “treasured and pondered”?

The whole picture:

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-brueghel-the-elder-the-adoration-of-the-kings