Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Heaven
Author: N / A
Created: late 19th – early 20th century.
Material / technique: wood carving, polychrome.
Dimensions: high - 53 cm.
Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Heaven is a story, which depicts the Prophesy that the Mother of the Son of God would be proclaimed Queen of Heaven. According to legends, following her earthly life, Mary was the first of all people to be resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven with her body and soul. Mary is depicted with a royal crown, pressing a serpent under feet, her hands clasped in prayer, her eyes look down and she watches the world with her calm and penetrating look.
We do not know how Mother Mary ascended to the heaven, how she was seated there and crowed, because this was not revealed to the people.
We know, however, that angels and saints are indeed servants of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary is Our Lord’s Mother and can ask whatever she wishes from her Son. The Lord Jesus, as the real God, although he is far greater than the mother he had created, can judge people. While the Virgin Mary does not judge anyone and, as the mother, she takes care of her brothers – people calling for her help. Living on earth she experienced many hardships, she knows our misfortunes and wishes us to stave off them. Therefore we have many miraculous paintings of The Virgin Mary and many places where her help is special. [Motiejus Valančius, „Gyvenimas Švenčiausios Marijos Panos“, Raštai 3, p. 291–293)
Reference: "The Lithuanian art collection of Jaunius Gumbis". Museum and Collector - 6. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2016, Kat. No, P. 182.
Published: "The Lithuanian art collection of Jaunius Gumbis". Museum and Collector - 6. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2016, Kat. No, P. 183; "The traditional folk sculptures collection of Gediminas Petraitis". Ed. Marytė Slušinskaitė. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2012, P. 14.