The attributes of the Virgin Mary

The figure of the Virgin Mary occupies a central place in Christian art – and is depicted in many ways. Whether holding the Child, reading, spinning or set within episodes of her life, these depictions invite the viewer to discover the attributes by which she can be recognised.

By observing details —objects, gestures, colours and settings— we will try to understand how artists built her image and conveyed the values attributed to her.

From the recollection of the Annunciation to the serenity of the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, this tour offers a journey through Marian iconography, revealing the meanings and stories hidden in some of the most beautiful depictions of the Virgin Mary.