The Irish Madonna of Hungary was brought from Ireland to Hungary by Bishop Lynch, who was fleeing persecution for his faith within Ireland in 1652.¹ This portrait is famous for its St. Patrick’s Day miracle where the Madonna began to shed tears and blood down the canvas towards the sleeping jesus. After word spread of this miracle, Catholics, Protestants, and Jews flocked to see these miraculous events for themselves..
The image utilizes dark blue paints to keep the background simple and the focus on the Madonna and child. Both figures have gold and jeweled crowns but only the Madonna is pictured with a halo and is dressed in fine clothes. Both faces depict peaceful expressions. From a distance, the figures really stand out since their fair skin glows in comparison to the dark colors used throughout the rest of the image. The closer the viewer gets, the more clear the details within the clothing and figures become. Mary’s hands are together and at her center as if she is praying over the baby Jesus who is lying peacefully with his head rested on a plush pillow and covered with an intricate red blanket. May’s eyes are fixated on the Baby Jesus who is depicted with red hair which is not common with depictions of Christ but could tie back to the image’s Irish roots. This could have been done by the artist to display Catholicism in Ireland. Christ is naked and sleeping which also is a foreshadow or anticipation of his death to save us from sin.
Experiencing Miraculous Images 