Saint Bernard's Vision of the Virgin and Child

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Saint Bernard's Vision of the Virgin and Child

Creator

Simon Marmion

Flemish Illuminator · 1450–1489

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Artist

Not long after his death, Simon Marmion was praised by the poet Jean Lemaire de Belges as the "prince of illumination." This reputation probably owed much to the artist's proficiency in depicting nature and his skill as a storyteller. Marmion was especially gifted in the representation of light and the textures of objects, as well as the creation of engaging psychological content in the gestures a

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Date
about 1475–1480
Medium
Tempera colors and gold
Culture
French
Department
Manuscripts
Institution
Getty Museum
Object ID
27430046-b6bc-41a6-b805-446114d327f3

One day, kneeling before a statue of the Virgin, Saint Bernard (1090-1153) prayed, "Show yourself to be a mother." In response, a few drops of milk from the breast of the statue, a metaphor for the gift of life, fell onto Bernard's lips. This miniature, removed from a devotional book at some point in the past, illustrates that legend. Bernard's words, in Latin, are inscribed in gold above the Virgin's head. The statue of the Virgin and Child seems to come to life before Bernard, a feeling enhanced by the artist's depiction of the Christ child reaching out and grasping Bernard's staff. In addition, the miniature is structured so that the viewer looks over Bernard's shoulder and sees the scene from his perspective. The overall effect is to bring the viewer as close as possible to Saint Bernard's own experience of the miracle.

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