The Betrothal of the Virgin

Though not recounted in the canonical gospels, the betrothal of the Virgin and Saint Joseph is one of the scenes from the life of Mary most frequently depicted in Christian art. The account of this event appears in the Apocrypha, whence many pious traditions stem. The marriage takes place inside the temple, whose floorboards, along with a part of the walls, can be seen. In the foreground, Joseph and Mary, about to become husband and wife, hold out their right hands to the priest, Zacharias, who is imparting the nuptial blessing. AlI three of them are standing on a carpet which marks out the most important area of the work. In his left hand, Joseph, depicted as a young man, is holding a flowering staff over which the Holy Spirit hovers in the form of a dove, indicating that he had been chosen to marry Mary. In the upper part of the work, the sky parts and, among the clouds, symbolizing the divine presence, appears the name of God, written in Hebrew characters, and a golden light which impregnates the whole area. On either side, six cherubs scatter flowers that symbolize the Marian virtues of purity, humility, chastity, and so on. Angels are also present on the earthly plane, where a heavenly choir celebrates the union of Joseph and Mary by playing various instruments behind their backs. This work passed to the MUNAL from the San Diego Viceregal Painting Gallery in the year 2000.