The assumption of the Virgin Mary

The assumption of the Virgin Mary was a belief that cause one of the biggest controversies in the Catholic Church after the Council of Trent (1545-1563). The disagreements were supported by the fact that the death of Mary, like several scenes in her life, is not referenced in the Bible, although it is mentioned in the Liber de Transitu Virginis, a Latin text of the second century.

According to the Liber, the apostles and some devout women witnessed how, three days after her burial, the body of the Virgin was taken to heaven by angels. In this work, however, not only the assumption is depicted, but also the moment when Mary is received in Heaven.

A group of men and women surround the Virgin’s tomb, in which the shroud barely remains, and on top of it some flowers. More numerous, stand out in the group the twelve apostles, whom we see moved by the event they witness.

Despite the absence of iconographic attributes makes it difficult to identify each apostle, we recognize in the group only one young face, which we can associate with John. Standing in the right corner of the composition, this apostle holds one corner of the shroud.

Three women kneeling in front of the tomb, each with very different gestures, complete the group. Their identity has not been clarified. Some texts associate them with widows or maidens who accompanied Mary in her last years.

However, in the upper right corner of this work of the Santa Clara Museum, there is an unusual figure in the representations of this mariological scene: Christ. With his arms open and covered by a red cloak, which symbolizes the Passion, the Son receives the Virgin body and soul in heaven.

The presence of Christ refers us to a second scene: that of the reception of Mary in the heavenly environment, whose representation was scarce in the colonial art of New Granada.

Even though the dogma of the assumption of Mary was officially established until 1950 with Pope Pius XII, this event used to be celebrated as part of the liturgical calendar since the 6^th century. In Spain, as well as in Colombia and other territories that were former Hispanic colonies, this religious event continues to be an important holiday for some faithful and takes place on August 15^th of each year.