Statues - Hither & Thither

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Obermorschwihr
Haut-Rhin
Alsace

Place de la République

Sainte Marie de l'Immaculée Conception

Saint Mary Immaculate Conception

The mother of Jesus Christ
(Wikipedia)

artist unknown
1877

Obermorschwihr / Sainte Marie de l'Immaculée Conception

Description

Gold painted statue of St. Mary on a column in the basin of a fountain.

Inscription(s)

Zur
dankbare Erinnerung
die Pfarrkinder von
Obermorschwihr
1877

O Maria
Helferin
der Christen
Bitt für uns

Annotation

In 1855 a cholera epidemic broke out and made about thirty victims, but then stopped as suddenly as it began. The villagers then erected in 1877 this statue of the Virgin, still surmounting the fountain.

Depictions of Saint Mary

Saint Mary, as the mother of Jesus Christ, has a central role in the life of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic veneration of her as the Blessed Virgin Mary has grown over time both in importance and manifestation, not only in prayer but in art, poetry and music. She is usually depicted as a beautiful young woman, with a (blue) mantle. In the majority of the depictions she is having the Infant Jesus in her arms or on her lap.
Attributes of Saint Mary:

A crown of 12 stars (Relevation 12:1), sometimes 7 stars.
A royal crown, sometimes also a scepter: Mary Queen of Heaven.
Standing on a globe.
Standing on the crescent moon (Relevation 12:1).
Crushing the serpent (sometimes a dragon) under her feet. The serpent can have an apple in his mouth (Genesis 3:15). A special depiction is where Jesus impales the serpent with a spear-cross.
Flowers: Lily (symbol of virginity and purity), roses (Mary's mystical participation in the Holy Trinity as Heaven's Rose or Mystical Rose), iris or "Sword Lily" (emblem of Our Lady's Seven Sorrows), fleur-de-lis (resembling both the Iris and the Madonna Lily)

The Infant Jesus sometimes has some attributes too:

a crown and/or a royal orb (usually in combination with Mary as Queen of Heaven)
making a blessing gesture

Sculptor

Unknown artist. Do you know who the sculptor is? please let us know.

Sources & Information

Petit Patrimoine, Fontaine de la Vierge à Obermorschwihr.

Locatie (N 48°1'5" - E 7°17'44") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: fral070; Photograph: 15 April 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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