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Madonna Platytera,

fresco by Gottfried Bernard Göz

 

madonna

In this painting from 1794, on the ceiling of the Wallfahrtskirche in Birnau, Switzerland, the powerful vision of the Apocalyptic woman has become reality.
We see Maria, surrounded by her angels. Above her head, in the Zenith, shines a central Sun, emitting twelve rays. Her own head, too, is wreathed by twelve stars. Beneath her is the Earth, which she has encircled entirely with her crescent Moon. The snake with its apple is firmly held in check by her right foot.
One of her assistant angels is pointing a mirror towards the onlooker. Another angel (with a flame on its head) is projecting an image through a heart-shaped lens on the rear of the mirror. Its rays come from Maria's heart. Here we can feel that the mystery of human incarnation has found its dwelling in Maria.
This triumphant Maria is sometimes called the pre-existing Maria, or Maria Sapientia.

 

 

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