Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

Paolo Veronese crafted this drawing, “Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” capturing a scene brimming with divine promise. The central motif is the newborn Mary, presented to her mother, St. Anne, surrounded by women attending to the infant and mother. This scene is steeped in symbolism. The act of attending to a newborn, particularly a holy figure, resonates across cultures, echoing ancient Roman depictions of childbirth with goddesses attending. The swaddling of the baby connects to images of infant care in medieval art, symbolizing protection and purity, a recurring theme. The gesture of presenting the child is a powerful force, akin to offering and hope. Think back to ancient votive offerings; here, Mary is, herself, the offering. In the collective memory, the image of the newborn is a promise, a potent symbol engaging our innermost hopes, a symbol that echoes through history, constantly reshaped yet eternally potent.