Mater Dolorosa

Mater Dolorosa
c. 1470/75
Dieric Bouts
Art Institute of Chicago

This image is of a weeping or sorrowing Madonna. The close-up depiction emphasizes Mary's sorrow and is meant to be a devotional image. In Catholic symbolism, Mary weeps both for the death of Jesus, and for the sins of the world. She is the intercessor between man and God. The believer praying before this image is moved to confess his sins and to plead for mercy.

Deiric Bouts is contemporary with Hugo van der Goes. However, this image retains some medieval qualities. The subject exists in an other-worldly space, designated by the lack of setting objects or landscape and by the use of gold leaf. These qualities are retained through the Renaissance in devotional images. What makes the image Renaissance, is the lack of a halo or nimbus to designate Mary as a holy person. The depiction of Mary's face and hands are also very human, aspects which are ignored in medieval art.

This image is striking in its depiction of Mary's sorrow. Her red-rimmed eyes and tears are very life-like. The positioning of her hands are also very beautiful, if somewhat posed.