Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

Title: Virgin of the Dry Tree
Creator: Petrus Christus, painter
Description: The Brotherhood of the Virgin of the Dry Tree was a religious society to which Petrus Christus and his wife belonged. The society was particularly devoted to the Immaculate Conception (the name of the society references Ezekiel 17:24, in which the Tree of Knowledge was understood as a reference to Original Sin and Mary's role in salvation as the new Eve). Here, the Virgin and Christ Child stand within a spiny circular tree that calls to mind the crown of thorns. The fifteen “A”s that hang from the tree represent fifteen Ave Marias.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Rights: Public domain
Subject (See Also): Mary, Virgin, Saint and Child
Geographic Area: Low Countries
Century: 15
Date: ca. 1460-1473
Related Work:
Current Location: Madrid, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Original Location:
Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings
Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Oil; Wood panel
Donor:
Height/Width/Length(cm): 12 cm/ 4.7"/17cm/ 6.7"/
Inscription:
Related Resources: