The Crowned Virgin in a Niche 1543

This engraving of the Crowned Virgin in a Niche was made by Geoffroy Dumoûtier around 1545. Here, we see the Virgin Mary, crowned and holding the Christ Child, set within a niche. The crown atop Mary’s head signifies her role as Queen of Heaven, a symbol of triumph and regal authority dating back to ancient Roman personifications of cities and virtues crowned with diadems. Note how the Christ Child nestles close to her, a pose echoing ancient depictions of Isis and Horus, the Egyptian mother goddess and her divine child, a motif illustrating protection, nourishment, and the sacredness of motherhood. This motif, deeply embedded in the human psyche, resurfaces throughout history, embodying the universal longing for maternal comfort and divine grace. These images possess what I call "pathos formulae", stirring deep-seated emotions that transcend time. The reappearance of such symbols reveals a non-linear progression, continuously evolving yet fundamentally rooted in our collective cultural memory.