The Strength of an Embrace

There is one episode in the history of Christianity which underlines the importance of an embrace, and of sharing an experience.

The Visitation recounts the closeness of two women, of different ages, bound by the same condition: expecting a child.

The subject of this section features a young Virgin Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah. Knowing she is expecting a child, Mary rushes to her aid.

The Gospel of Luke recounts this episode, of how Mary hurried to help Elizabeth, who gave birth to John the Baptist.

At that time, Mary had already received the news from the Archangel: She was soon to have a son named Jesus, son of the Most High God, conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The embrace is testimony of an unbreakable bond.

"When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?'"

(Luke, 1:42-43)

In all probability, the panel comes from the absidal window dedicated to the New Testament (V19), and dates back to the first quarter of the 15th century.

At its base the inscription "Et intravit in domum Zacharie / et salutavit orum opus" is legible.

It is a rare example of monochrome glass, in which the figures and details are painted in grisaille. There is extensive use of silver yellow on all the details of the figures.

Among the details that resurfaced during the last restoration, in the early 2000s, the use of red grisaille, the sanguine, emerges.

The artwork is part of the collection on exhibition in Milan Duomo Museum's rooms.


Read more on Milan Cathedral Remixed.