This drawing depicts the Nativity to the Virgin Mary, an event described in early Christian literature. Neither The Protoevangelium of James, nor later sources like The Golden Legend, gives many details about the birth itself; they treat at much greater length the events leading up to Mary’s conception. Because of this, artistic depictions of the Nativity vary considerably. My drawing is based mostly on 15th century paintings that depict the birth in a comfortable domestic setting.
From these paintings, I took details like a midwife preparing a bath for the baby, and another attendant bringing St. Ann a chicken dinner. As Ss. Joachim and Ann were described as a prosperous couple, their home is well furnished, with stained glass windows, marble columns with carved capitals, and a canopied bed.
Many of the items depicted in the household appear in other drawings of the Summula Pictoria; I do this is order to suggest connections between the different events. The candlestick stands also in the temple at Mary and Joseph’s Espousals; the water jar is near the Widow of Sarepta when she encounters Elijah; and the lion-shaped aquamanile is on the table at the Hospitality of Abraham (at which was announced another miraculous birth). All three are present in my drawing of the Annunciation.
The Virgin Mary is one of twelve Biblical figures for whom I have designed a signature carpet, to appear with her throughout the Summula Pictoria. The art historian Volkmar Gantzhorn argued in his book The Christian Oriental Carpet that carpets are traditional indicators of sanctity, like halos for the feet. (Although here, since Mary is too little to stand, the carpet hangs on the wall behind the birthing bed.) Mary’s carpet includes the words virgo and mater written in orthogonal letters.
The Hebrew words embroidered on the bed’s canopy are the end of Exodus 1.20: Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
The capitals of the columns have carved figures of the sheela-na-gig, similar to those that adorn the 12th-century Church of Ss. Mary and David at Kilpeck. The meaning of this figure, which appears often in the carved decoration of medieval churches, is disputed; I hold to the theory that it is a stylized representation of a woman giving birth.
The tile pattern on the floor was aesthetically inspired by Islamic girih tiling, but is based on entirely different geometric shapes — squares and equilateral triangles rather than pentagons — that are more symbolically resonant in Christianity.
Throughout the Summula Pictoria, I depict halos according to a system that I myself invented. In patristic writings, the New Testament is associated with the clear light of the Sun, and the Old with the reflected light of the Moon. Therefore, I depict saints of the Old Testament with silver or lunar halos, and saints of the New Testament with golden or solar halos. The Virgin Mary has a special place between the two Testaments; for this reason, her halo has a golden outer circle and a silver inner circle, with the light blue sky of day between them.
Because Ss. Joachim and Ann are saints of the Old Testament (meaning that they died before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ), their halos resemble the crescent moon.
In all drawings of the Summula Pictoria, I use the translucent calfskin for artistic effect, drawing certain details on the reverse side. These appear more or less distinct depending on how much light is shining through the drawing. Here, those details include fossil coral in the pillars, colored glass, and anything seen through standing water.
Medium: Drawing, color ink on calfskin vellum
Dimensions: 6" × 6 3/4"
Year: 2021
Open-edition giclée prints of this drawing are available. You may use the buttons below to pay via PayPal, debit card, or credit card. Be sure to confirm the shipping address.
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Actual size art print: $34
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13" × 14" large print: $68
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200dpi digital download: $7
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See this page for additional ordering instructions and general information. If you want to pay via a check or money order, please e-mail me at danielmitsui@danielmitsui.com.
