AA-2026-ECB3B2
On the image
A heavily adorned religious statue from the 1970s, likely representing the Virgin Mary, wears a towering gilded crown and lavish brocade, demonstrating the era's commitment to ensuring that even inanimate objects of faith presented a suitably regal appearance.
The meticulous detail extends to carefully painted tears, a design choice intended to convey profound empathy, even if the subject cannot technically experience sorrow. This dedication to sartorial and emotional accuracy reflects a human need to imbue the divine with relatable suffering, ensuring that the visual representation of belief remains perpetually in character.
The historian's note
This image depicts a highly embellished devotional statue, most likely of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Sorrows), characterised by its elaborate vestments, ornate crown, and painted tears. Such statues are central to Catholic veneration, particularly within Spanish and Latin American traditions, where they are often dressed in rich fabrics and jewellery. The practice reflects a long history of honouring sacred figures through opulent material offerings.
In the 1970s, as depicted here, these traditions continued to hold strong cultural and religious significance, serving as focal points for public and private devotion, often paraded during religious festivals or displayed in churches and chapels.
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Visually related — by likeness
Crowned Virgin Mary Devotional Statue, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-ECB3B2. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/crowned-virgin-mary-devotional-statue-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026ECB3B2,
title = {Crowned Virgin Mary Devotional Statue, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-ECB3B2},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/crowned-virgin-mary-devotional-statue-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Crowned Virgin Mary Devotional Statue, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-ECB3B2 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/crowned-virgin-mary-devotional-statue-1970s ER -
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