The Virgin of the Flowering Pea

This up-close view of Virgin references Byzantine icons, often considered miracle-working relics in western Europe. The unknown artist emphasized the emotional bond between the mother and infant. Their humanity counterbalances their majesty – she wears a crown as Queen of Heaven, and angels play music for her and her son. The flowering peas symbolize the Virgin’s purity and motherhood. The work once appeared jewel-like: the gold ground (now lost) would have caught the light, and the halos would have shone with silver leaf, now tarnished. Frame: panel and frame are integral, carved from the same block of wood