ART OF THE MONTH – MAY
The Month of May is known among Catholics as Our Lady’s Month. Strange to say, during this month there are no major feasts of the Blessed Virgin. In May we celebrate Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament to honour her relationship to the Holy Eucharist and to place her before us as a model in our duties and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. On the same day, 13th May we celebrate Our Lady of Fatima which is an Optional Memorial which means it is a feast day the Church encourages us to celebrate, without strictly requiring its observance. While there are lots of sweet and lovely little prayer cards of Our Lady of Fatima, I know of no notable paintings of her under this title. Still, we cannot think of May without Mary and so I have chosen a rather splendid painting in which the Archangel Gabriel hears Mary, full of grace, willingly surrendering her will to that of God.
The annunciation is, of course, a feast of Our Lord but it points to the importance and role of Mary in the work of Salvation. “Let it be.” “Thy will be done.” In this she echoes the words of the psalmist, “Lo, I come; I delight to do thy will, O my God.” (Ps. 40) The painting which dates from the 14th century is entitled, “The Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus” who were patron saints of Siena’s Cathedral. Simone Martini painted the central panel and probably Lippo Memmi, his associate and brother-in-law, was involved in the side panels. The rather splendid frame, though probably similar, is not the original. It can be seen at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. At first glance, with its five peaks, it looks like a pentaptych but the central section is double size and consequently it is a triptych painted on wood in tempera and gold, with the central panel having double size. The use of rare and expensive materials such as gold-leaf and lapis lazuli are an indication that this work is considered as incredibly important.
It is, indeed, a masterpiece, one of his greatest works. The Archangel Gabriel holds an olive branch, a symbol of peace and points at the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, breathing down towards Mary, with rays of golden light speaking to her as does the angel. The Virgin stops reading but keeps her finger in the book and, looking perplexed, assumes a reluctant posture, while looking at the angel. This, of course, is before she gives her Fiat. Unsure of what is involved, nevertheless, she will gladly agree to God’s plan. Look closely and you will see something unusual. The words the angel speaks are actually written in the painting, being directed right into Mary’s ear. “Ave gratia plena dominus tecum” (Hail favoured one the Lord is with you). There is a great elegance and richness in this painting and the most wonderful detail and symbolism. Consider the vase of lilies. They are a symbol of Mary’s purity. Look at the incredible detail in the angel’s wing and the flow of his cloak; hanging in the air as if he has just arrived.
One final and unusual point. Simone Martini was alive in the time of Petrarch, the scholar and poet whose father knew Dante. In exchange for a painting of his beloved, Petrarch immortalized Martini in two of his sonnets!
Monsignor Monaghan
