Duccio painting, "Madonna and Child" (Copy)

Fra Angelico fresco of The Annunciation (Copy)

Jacopo Pontormo painting of "The Visitation" (Copy)

William Holman Hunt painting of "Finding of the Savior in the Temple" (Copy)

Rogier van der Weyden painting of "The Descent from the Cross" (Copy)

Michelangelo's sculpture of "The Pieta" (Copy)

Encountering Mary in Art

Mary is the most represented woman in European art from the 6th to the 18th century. These works of art include many of the most celebrated masterpieces in the world’s finest art collections. Today, these works are often not observed or understood in their art historical and theological context.

I have developed a three-part lecture series designed for church groups and secondary schools exploring the representation of Mary’s life in Western art and examining the theology and traditions informing those works of art

Mary’s Childhood to the Annunciation
Mary as Young Mother
Mary at the Foot of the Cross and the Assumption

Some of the works are shown here

Saint Anne in Art

In the Catholic Tradition, Saint Anne has a special role as the mother of Mary. This is a single lecture or interactive presentation designed for church groups, secondary schools and others exploring the development of the representation of Saint Anne in Western art and examining the theology and traditions informing those works of art.

Some of the works are shown here

1 Masaccio Saint Anne 1424-25 Uffizi copy.jpeg

4 Velazquez Light Education of the Virgin 1617-18 YUAG copy.jpeg

1. Guido Reni Immaculate Conception.jpeg

2 The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables.jpg

3 Tiepolo The Immaculate Conception Prado .jpg

Immaculate conception in art

In Catholic doctrine, Mary was conceived without original sin. Beautiful paintings of the Immaculate Conception of Mary influenced the development of the doctrine.

Several of the artists whose works are featured in this presentation were men of deep faith and devotion to Mary.

Some of the works are shown here