The Immaculate Conception and the Moon
"A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Revelation of John the Evangelist).
Depictions of the Immaculate Conception treading on the moon or the serpent are found above all in Western iconography of the late Renaissance. The Virgin is also often shown with her head crowned with twelve stars.
In this particular depiction, attributed to International Gothic painters of the Bembo school active in the 14th century, the moon is shown at the Madonna's feet in its different phases: new moon, full moon and half moon (from left to right).
The lunar symbol, in the form of a crescent on the head, is also used in depictions of the pagan deities Artemis/Diana and of the Egyptian goddess Isis.
It seems that the artists chose here to retain a symbol belonging to pre-Christian times, subjugating it by placing it beneath the feet of the Virgin Mary. Mary, the virgin bride of God, rises above the moon, dominating it with her purity.
In this particular iconography, therefore, Mary expresses the power that dominates chaos: a sun rising above the darkness, a light that puts an end to the changeability of the shadows, represented here by the phases of the moon.
Some images in this article are hosted on external sites and open in a new tab.
🇮🇹 Leggi questo articolo in italiano →Originally published in Italian on the Montezaga blog (montezaga.wordpress.com) →