1515 (ca.), Gerard David, The Coronation of the Virgin -- Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena)
From the museum label:
The subject paraphrases the description of the Woman of the Apocalypse in Revelation 12:1: "A woman adorned with the sun, standing on the moon with twelve stars on her head for a crown." The sumptuous, if archaic, gold background refers to the celestial radiance of the sun. Two angels hold a crown above Mary's head, signifying her position as Queen of Heaven. The crescent moon (chastity), and white rose (purity) allude to the Immaculate Conception, the doctrine that Mary was conceived without Original Sin.
David fortifies the idea of the Immaculate Mary as intercessor, between God and humankind, by depicting her in a heavenly zone above four supplicants. David's gift as a portraitist is admirably realized in the four male prophets which are undoubtedly portraits of living men. The young man on the left may well depict John the Evangelist, who is generally credited with being the author of Revelation.
1515 (ca.), Gerard David, The Coronation of the Virgin -- Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena)
From the museum label:
The subject paraphrases the description of the Woman of the Apocalypse in Revelation 12:1: "A woman adorned with the sun, standing on the moon with twelve stars on her head for a crown." The sumptuous, if archaic, gold background refers to the celestial radiance of the sun. Two angels hold a crown above Mary's head, signifying her position as Queen of Heaven. The crescent moon (chastity), and white rose (purity) allude to the Immaculate Conception, the doctrine that Mary was conceived without Original Sin.
David fortifies the idea of the Immaculate Mary as intercessor, between God and humankind, by depicting her in a heavenly zone above four supplicants. David's gift as a portraitist is admirably realized in the four male prophets which are undoubtedly portraits of living men. The young man on the left may well depict John the Evangelist, who is generally credited with being the author of Revelation.