DOI Heft:
Nr. 1-2
DOI Artikel:Dobrzeniecki, Tadeusz: Imago Pietatis: its meaning and function
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18819#0015
4. Imago
Pietatis, Israel van Meckenem
(after Mersmaim)
S. Imago Pietatis, Italian (?) mosaic icon, late XIIIth
or early XIVth century, Rome, Sta Croce in Gerusalemme
(after Bertelli)
seeking for consolation.35 In the Magnificat Canticle Mary confesses about Herself: ,, [The Lord]
hath regarded the Iow estate of his handmaiden" (Dominus respexit humilitatem ancillae suae).
The Virgin announced Her abasement and as well called Herself „the handmaid of the Lord"
already at the moment of the Angelic Salutation and this was one of the reasons for representing
Mary in humble attitude and juxtaposing Her willi Sorrowful Son36 by mediacval artists. In such
a juxtaposition Jesus voluntarily humiliating Himself in His suffering is shown aside of His
Mother, „the humble handmaid of the Lord" and the inseparable companion of the Passion
(indivisa socia passionis) .37
A manuscript written in 1475, the property of the Carthusians at Santa Croce in Rome, relates
that once during a Mass Christ in specie Pasloris sub effigie pietatis miraculously revealed Himself
to St Gregory the G-reat celebrating at the altar. The Pope ordered this vision to be fixed in
a picture that was called Imago pietatis. The painting is known to us from the two identieal
9
Pietatis, Israel van Meckenem
(after Mersmaim)
S. Imago Pietatis, Italian (?) mosaic icon, late XIIIth
or early XIVth century, Rome, Sta Croce in Gerusalemme
(after Bertelli)
seeking for consolation.35 In the Magnificat Canticle Mary confesses about Herself: ,, [The Lord]
hath regarded the Iow estate of his handmaiden" (Dominus respexit humilitatem ancillae suae).
The Virgin announced Her abasement and as well called Herself „the handmaid of the Lord"
already at the moment of the Angelic Salutation and this was one of the reasons for representing
Mary in humble attitude and juxtaposing Her willi Sorrowful Son36 by mediacval artists. In such
a juxtaposition Jesus voluntarily humiliating Himself in His suffering is shown aside of His
Mother, „the humble handmaid of the Lord" and the inseparable companion of the Passion
(indivisa socia passionis) .37
A manuscript written in 1475, the property of the Carthusians at Santa Croce in Rome, relates
that once during a Mass Christ in specie Pasloris sub effigie pietatis miraculously revealed Himself
to St Gregory the G-reat celebrating at the altar. The Pope ordered this vision to be fixed in
a picture that was called Imago pietatis. The painting is known to us from the two identieal
9