3-072-281 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Dormition of the Mother of God, c1480-1490. Additional Info: Mary's death was described based on apocryphal writings in the "Golden Legend" ("Legenda aurea") by Jacobus de Voragine (circa 1230-1298). Near the head of the bed on which Mary is lying, we see the standing Christ, who is holding in his hand a small figure in a crown embodying Mary's soul, which has just left her body. Around the bed, the apostles have gathered, including Saint John the Evangelist in a white robe with a palm and a book, Saint James the Elder with a pilgrim's scallop and Saint Philip with a stick tipped with a cross and a vessel with holy water, in which Saint Peter is immersing the aspergillum. Dressed in priest's robes, he is reading a prayer for the dead from the book lying open in front of him. In the foreground, near the candlestick with a burning funeral candle, we see two kneeling figures Saint John the Baptist with a white lamb and Mary Magdalene wiping her tears, with a vessel for ointments being her attribute.