The shrine of the Blessed Virgin at Walsingham was one of the major pilgrimage destinations in medieval England. Built to commemorate a series of visions experienced by Richeldis de Faverches in the 11th century, it housed a miracle-working statue. The shrine was looted and desecrated under Henry VIII, and the statue was removed to Chelsea and burned.
Surviving drawings of the destroyed statue show Mary seated on a throne, holding a lily stalk in her hand. The throne has seven rings around its two pillars, representing the sacraments. Under her foot is a toadstone, a traditional symbol of evil (which I depicted as literally bufiform). The Christ Child sits on her lap and holds a book.
The text below the central image is a line from a 15th century English poem:
King of alle kynges to here Sone che ches.
He cam also stylle there His moder was
As dew in Aprylle, that fallyt on the gras.
He cam also stylle to His moderes bowr
As dew in Aprille, that fallyt on the flour.
He cam also stylle ther His moder lay
As dew in Aprille, that fallyt on the spray.
Moder & mayden was never non but che -
Wel may swych a lady Godes moder be.
I formatted the picture like a recto book leaf. The design of the border was heavily influenced by the Sherborne Missal, a manuscript illuminated in 14th century England. Stylized vines twist through it, supporting geometric ornaments and small sections of millefleur and seashell patterns. To the right is a Gothic monstrance housing an image of the Man of Sorrows. In the bas-de-page I drew pilgrims coming to and going from the Chapel of St. Catherine, which is about a mile from Walsingham. In medieval times, it was common for pilgrims to remove their shoes there to walk the final mile on bare feet. Thus it became known as the Slipper Chapel.
St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Margaret of Antioch (whose statues flanked the statue of Blessed Virgin in the medieval shrine) and St. Lawrence are drawn in the corners of the border.
The print is based on my ink drawings. It is about one and a half times larger than the originals.
Dimensions: 10" × 14"
An open-edition giclée print is available for $60. You may use the button below to pay via PayPal, debit card or credit card. Be sure to confirm the shipping address.
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.
