What do I want Mary to look like when I meet her? Well, this image is pretty good.
Mariano Salvador Maella (1739-1819), “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” (photo: Public Domain, courtesy of the National Catholic Register)
Notice all the happy, goofy boys lifting, pushing, falling, tumbling, and climbing. They are unorganized. The girls above are all singing in unison. They are organized.
I’m the one trying to escape the confusion with my hand on the thigh of the bigger angel and my other arm against the chubby angel. I think Mary has her right foot on fatso and her left foot on my head. The bigger, black-haired angel is there just to see her. I’m there because I want to be in. He seems to be playing with my hair, which is a good sign because it means that an older, stronger boy will protect me and make sure I am in, not out.
My sisters will be furious at me for picking this painting because it appears as if Mary loves all her boys. Nah. They are just helping her get up really, really high, and what’s wrong with some pictorial recognition for effort.
RSS Feed