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Iconography of the Virgin Mary in Medieval Wall Paintings in Ludrová–Kút in Slovakia

2017; Brepols; Volume: 10; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1484/j.ikon.4.2017012

2507-041X

Štefan Valášek,

Medieval European History and Architecture

This paper analyses the role of the Virgin Mary in the largest Christological cycle in Slovakia (the medieval Upper Hungary). The All Saint´s Church is well-known thanks to complex interior medieval wall paintings that are dated to the period from 1420 to 1430. Decoration of the presbytery walls contains examples of Marian iconography. On the vault of the presbytery are painted eschatological scenes - Last Judgement (Deesis) and the Coronation of Virgin Mary. In the Christological cycle The Virgin Mary occupies an important position primarily in the scenes depicting the childhood and passion of the Christ. In decoration of the vault the Virgin Mary is represented as Mediatrix and Ecclesia, but in the narrative scenes from the life of Jesus Christ she participates actively in a work of salvation. In the nave, on the northern wall, there is a figurative triptych containing the picture of Virgin of Loving Mercy. This layer is dated to the end of the 14th century. In this mural there is an unusually illustrated woman hanging on the lace of the Virgin Mary. This woman is trying to save herself from an attacking devil, which is depicted in the bottom left corner. This picture is a visual form of the prayer Sub tuum praesidium, which is the oldest preserved extant hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Theotokos.