Title of Art: Presentation at the Temple
Artist: Ambrogio Lorenzetti
Art Form: Painting
Date of Composition: 1382
Event: Presentation of Christ
Subjects: Mary, Mother of God; Anna
Ritual Pose/Object: scroll, star
Exhibit Institution: Le Gallerie degli Uffizi (The Uffizi)
Exhibit Location: Florence, Italy
VM Image #: 0048
Photographer: Shala Graham
Date of Photograph: January 7, 2023
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Presentation of Jesus at the temple. Mary is holding a white blanket and Joseph is on the left. Simeon is holding Jesus, and Anna the prophetess is holding a scroll and pointing at Christ. This panel was signed by the artist and was painted for the Chapel of San Crescenzio in Siena.
This piece vividly depicts Luke 2:22-39, when Mary and Joseph go to the temple to present Jesus, and for Mary to be purified per the Jewish purification rites required by the Law. Mary is shown wearing her standard red cloak and blue mantle, and on her shoulder is a golden star. In iconography, stars are used to symbolize various theological ideas. Though the star on Mary’s shoulder is difficult to identify, it could be an eight-pointed star which is often used to represent eternity; the star could also signify the Star of Bethlehem that pointed the way to Jesus. In Marian iconography in particular, Mary is often depicted with a star on each shoulder and a star on her forehead to signify perpetual virginity. In the painting, Mary still holds the white blanket having passed her son to Simeon, and Mary and Joseph both gaze contemplatively at the baby. Anna the prophetess holds a scroll that starts with the phrase et haec ipsa hora, “at that moment,” citing Luke 2:38, and Anna points to Jesus recognizing him as the Messiah.