This copy of the original is an exact replica of the 26 inch tall statue. The statue is made of lime wood but has blackened over time and is why this depiction of the Virgin Mary is famously known as the “Black Madonna.”
In 1489, Our Lady of Altötting saved a young boy who drowned. His faithful mother brought his body to lay at the feet of the statue and witnessed her son be restored back to life in front of several witnesses. Since then, the chapel became a popular place for pilgrimages.¹
The statue is of the blessed virgin with Christ, her child, who is being carried on her left arm. The clothing worn by the Virgin Mary and Christ is very intricate. The black panel down the front of their garments has flowers and other details in gold. The two figures match each other in dress.
Both the Virgin Mary and Christ have golden crowns on top of their heads and Mary holds a golden scepter. The crowns are very heavily jeweled and almost too large for their heads. The crowns are very heavily embellished with jewels of different colors. Mary is smiling towards her son who is holding a golden ball. Christ’s gaze is up towards Mary but also as if looking beyond her toward the Father in heaven foreshadowing the sacrifice he will give. Although Christ is small like a child, the way that he is dressed and the mature expression on his face demonstrates that He is not a normal child but Christ who is both man and divine.
Mary and Christ have the triangular dimensions which reflects a style that was commonly used during the Renaissance period though the original was a Gothic figure from the early 14th century.² The bottom of the clothing serves as the base of the pyramid and the heads are the vanishing points. The focus of these images is not so much on the anatomy of the body but on the intricate clothing and the faces of the Madonna and Christ.
Experiencing Miraculous Images 