"The first (painting) by Filippino Lippi, 'La Madre Pia', depicts a mystical garden fenced by a balustrade, beyond which is a rose hedge in bloom. The Virgin kneels in the middle, adoring the Child, who has His finger to His lips, indicating that He is the Word. A kneeling angel is scattering rose leaves over Him, the child John the Baptist also kneels, and four more angels complete the composition.
In the second painting, 'Madonna of the Rose-Trellice' by Francia, Jesus is lying on flowery grass. Mary is standing, gazing down on Him in tender devotion, her hands crossed over her breast. Jesus is holding up His tiny right hand in a divine 'Ave Maria'. He had sent those words to her by the angel Gabriel. Now His is here, and as their eyes meet He is silently communicating to her in His flesh, taken from her. This time the mystical garden is enclosed by a trellis of roses. Jesus and His mother are alone, to the exclusion of all other earthly relationships. There is no heavenly adoration or protection in the form of angels. This has a deeply poignant effect in that it stresses Jesus' vulnerability. God has put Himself under the protection of His human mother."
Copyright Jane Mossendew 2002
Tomorrow: Belated memorial of my patron saint - St. Jane Frances de Chantal
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