Black Madonna

Black Madonna is a term used for any of a number of religious works of art, statues, or other figures depicting Mary and her infant son, Jesus Christ, who are Black or darkened in some way. This could be because they were intended to portray Mary as being from an ethnic group with dark skin; because they are fashioned of dark wood, metal, or another material; because they have been darkened by age or some other outside source such as a fire; or simply because tradition has given them that name.

A significant number of Black Madonna paintings and statues are from the Medieval period. It is unclear why so many were created between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, but a number of theories have been developed to explain it. These range from connections to ancient pagan goddesses to a desire to connect Mary to the earth as a source of life to an artistic trend that was merely copied by numerous artists of the time. Regardless of the reason they were created, Black Madonnas almost always have a legendary background that carries deep significance for faithful Christians in the area.

Background

Mary is a historical figure who lived in the first century BCE and the first century CE. She was the mother of Jesus Christ, a Jewish teacher upon whose life and teachings the Christian faith is based. The majority of what is known about Mary is gleaned from what is mentioned about her in the Christian Bible. The Bible says Mary was approached by the Angel Gabriel and told that God wanted her to become pregnant through the action of the Holy Spirit instead of a man. The resulting child would be the incarnation of God, or God in human form. Mary agreed to this. After raising Jesus, Mary was present when he was executed by crucifixion by the Romans, and her sorrow at watching her son suffer this death is often looked at by Christians as an example and source of strength in difficult times.

Little else is known of Mary from the Bible. However, there are several non-biblical sources and some reported visions by saints throughout the ages that are seen as other sources of information about her life and death, including a belief that her body was lifted into heaven following her death. Because of her obedience to God and role in Jesus’s life, Mary is revered by many Christians, especially Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians. As a result, she is frequently portrayed in religious art. When she is pictured with her infant son, Mary is generally referred to as a Madonna.

Overview

Any image of Mary that portrays dark skin and/or characteristics associated with an ethnic group that has darker skin color can be called a “Black Madonna.” However, those who are labeled a “Black Madonna” are almost always the object of special reverence and honor. They often have a special provenance, or history explaining who made them, why they were made, what miracles or other special events are associated with them, and what famous people are part of their origin.

These Black Madonnas get designated as such in any of a number of ways, but there is always some special significance associated with the fact that they are labeled “Black.” Many of the images have one of a number of characteristics in addition to portraying Mary. However, there does not seem to be any set of rules that defines how or why a particular image of Mary, also known as a Marian image, is designated as a Black Madonna. Sometimes, the reason is easy to determine, while other reasons are more obscure and subject to more speculation.

Some images are called Black Madonnas because Mary is represented as having the skin color and physical characteristics of an ethnic group that has darker skin pigmentation. Many of these Madonnas originated in areas where the Indigenous people share those characteristics. The Madonna reflects the appearance of those who created the image. This group includes the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, made in Mexico, as well as many images created on the South American and African continents.

Another type of Black Madonna that is relatively easy to explain are those that did not start out with a dark coloration. Some materials darken with age and leave the image with a dark appearance. Others have been artificially darkened by the environment. Some Black Madonnas were found buried in the ground, where dirt and moisture changed their appearance. Some have been displayed for decades or even centuries in rooms where candles and incense were used or have even survived fires; these are often darkened by the heat, smoke, and soot. Our Lady of Altötting, a statue housed in Bavaria, survived a fire in 907 CE that is thought to have darkened her appearance, while the Swiss statute of Our Lady of the Hermits has been darkened by age. Often, the faithful who revere the statue prefer to have a Black Madonna and refuse to have it cleaned even if it could be restored to its original coloring.

Experts are unsure why some other images of Mary have been depicted with dark skin and features. Some theorize that they represent an attempt to draw pagans into Christianity by making Mary resemble the pagan earth goddesses. These were often depicted with dark skin because the richest soil for planting is deep black.

Other experts cite a passage in the Bible’s Song of Solomon that refers to a bride who is beautiful and Black. Since many images originated in areas frequented by Crusaders in the eleventh through fifteenth centuries when many Black Madonnas were created, some experts believe that there was a popular interpretation of the Song of Solomon that connected this to Mary and led to numerous Black Madonna images in France and other part of Europe.

Most known Black Madonna images are associated with some sort of special story or supernatural powers. For example, the Black Madonna of Jasna Gora, also known as Our Lady of Częstochowa, is said to have been painted by the same St. Luke who wrote the Gospel by that name while he was actually speaking to Mary. Later, the image was taken to Constantine the Great (272–378 CE) by his mother, St. Helen (c. 246–330 CE), and was eventually possessed by King Charlemagne (742–841 CE) before landing in Poland. The image is credited with having protected its possessors from deadly military attacks on several occasions. Other Black Madonnas, such as the Black Madonna of Montserrat, are thought to have the power to heal or bring other favor to those who offer reverence to Mary and prayers to God while near the image.

Bibliography

Duricy, Michael. “Black Madonnas: Origin, History, Controversy.” University of Dayton, udayton.edu/imri/mary/b/black-madonnas-origin-history-controversy.php. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Duricy, Michael. “Montserrat Black Madonna.” University of Dayton, udayton.edu/imri/mary/m/montserrat-black-madonna.php. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Harris, Elise. “Who is 'the Black Madonna' and Why Is She So Important?” Catholic News Agency, 19 July 2016, www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/who-is-the-black-madonna-and-why-is-she-so-important-63754. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

McFarlane, Marilyn. “Mystery of the Black Madonna.” EuropeUpClose, 20 Dec. 2022, europeupclose.com/article/mystery-of-the-black-madonna. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Rashidi, Runoko. “The Black Madonnas Of Europe: Miracle Workers and Holy Icons.” Atlanta Black Star, 6 July 2014, atlantablackstar.com/2014/03/26/black-madonnas-europe-miracle-workers-holy-icons. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Seaver, Carl. “The Strange History of the Black Madonna.” History Defined, www.historydefined.net/black-madonna. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.