Category:Madonna and Child (subject)

Madonna and Child depicts young Jesus with his mother Mary of Nazareth. Occasionally some other relatives are present, notably, Jesus' cousin John the Baptist (and John's mother, Elizabeth).

Madonna and Child -- Joseph and Jesus -- Holy Family -- Jesus at Nazareth -- Jesus among the Doctors

< Life of Jesus : Nativity of Jesus -- Childhood of Jesus -- Jesus' Hidden Years -- Ministry of Jesus (Parables of Jesus, Miracles of Jesus) -- Passion of Jesus -- Resurrection of Jesus -- Relics of Jesus >

< Life of Mary of Nazareth : Mary's Early Life -- Nativity of Jesus -- Childhood of Jesus -- Mary and the Ministry of Jesus --- Mary and the Early Church -- Relics of Mary of Nazareth >

Overview

The role of Mary of Nazareth, a quite marginal character in Paul and in the Gospel of Mark, rapidly increased in the early Church. The Nativity Stories in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke gave her a crucial role in the birth of the Messiah. The Gospel of John assigned her a role in the Ministry of Jesus and in the Passion of Jesus. Mary became the central female figure in Christian practice and belief in her role as the mother of Jesus. The iconography soon followed the path.

The iconography of Madonna and Child derives from the pagan iconography of Isis and Child, which was wide-spread in the Roman empire. The advantage was to christianize a familiar image by replacing its religious meaning without losing its power of attraction