Mandarin Madonna and Child #2

Thinking about Jesus as King of all nations (Ps. 47:6–8 / 22:28, Mt. 28:18–19, Rev. 19:16), it seems appropriate to picture the Mother and Child theme in other cultural settings, this one being Chinese.

So we have a strictly symmetrical composition, typical of Mandarin rulers, broken only by Mary’s inquiring expression as she wonders about the implications of the toy cross that her Child holds so resolutely. After all, at Jesus’ dedication in the Temple, Simeon prophesied that this Child would bring both salvation and division, be a sign of contradiction, reveal hearts, and that a “sword” (great sorrow) would pierce Mary’s soul (Lk. 2:22–35). This she guarded in her heart. The red cloth backdrop nailed to the wall behind Mary alludes to the Crucifixion in the Child’s future.