Madonna and Child in a Glory Standing on a Crescent Moon 1450 - 1460

This is an anonymous image of the Madonna and Child in a Glory Standing on a Crescent Moon. The identities of both mother and child are central to the image. Mary, a young woman from Galilee, is presented as the mother of God and an intercessor for humanity. The imagery presents a powerful female figure, yet the context in which this image circulated was one of deep patriarchal control. In the image, Mary stands on a crescent moon, a symbol with pagan roots, which the church reinterpreted as a symbol of Mary’s purity and triumph over darkness. The “glory” emanating from Mary in rays of light elevates her status. The tender embrace between mother and child suggests intimacy and the sacredness of motherhood. Images like this served to reinforce both spiritual and social norms, inviting contemplation of divine love, maternal devotion, and the complex intersections of power, gender, and religious belief.