The Christian custom of honoring the Virgin Mary during the month of May is well known, but few know why this month was chosen to honor the Mother of God.
In the Ancient Greece the month of May, which brought good weather and spring, was dedicated to Artemis, goddess of fertility. This tradition was passed on to the Roman culture as the month dedicated to Flora, goddess of vegetation.
During the Middle Ages began to spread among Christianity and in Spain a popular devotion to the Virgin Mary was born in this month, which was also called "month of flowers"The symbolism of this symbolism with the peak of spring, a time when nature is at its most fruitful and beautiful. In the XVII century the idea of a month dedicated specifically to the Virgin Mary was already widespread and in the XIX century this custom has been extended to the present day. Today, certain Marian customs such as pilgrimages and pilgrimages to Marian sanctuaries have become widespread.
During the month of May it is usual to find in our workshops works dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Today we want to show this sculptural group realized for the oratory of The Heights School in Potomac, Maryland, representing the Virgin of the beautiful love (Mater pulchrae dilectionis) with the adolescent Child Jesus.
Here we show you images of each stage of the creative process, starting with one of the concept sketches and ending with a photo of the finished work. The image was first modeled in clay, a material that allows the artist to work and review all the details that later will be carved by hand in wood.
The creative process starts, as always, from a conceptual sketch. This is the reference taken by our artists, who then work on the chosen materials, according to the technique required.
The carving reflects the scene of an adolescent Christ offering a rose to his mother. The mother is looking at her son.
The final result, a polychrome wood carving that tries to transmit the sweetness of a mother's face with the utmost naturalness.
