Skip to Main Content

Mary ascends the stairs to the temple, folio 9 (recto), from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier

1602–4
(1569–1627)
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Page: 26.2 x 15.5 cm (10 5/16 x 6 1/8 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 2005.145.9.a
Location: not on view
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Did You Know?

Mary’s instructor awaits her, book in hand, at the top of a temple of learning.

Description

In this scene from a noncanonical European source on the life of the Virgin Mary, her parents have brought their three-year-old daughter to the temple to be educated. According to the text it was tradition on such occasions for a priest to read a chapter from the Psalms as the child slowly progressed up each of the 15 steps. However, as soon as Mary placed her foot on the first step she pulled her hand away from her guide and quickly walked up the steep staircase without stopping or looking back. The figures around the temple gesture in surprise at her determination and eagerness to enter the service of God.
Mary ascends the stairs to the temple, folio 9 (recto), from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier

Mary ascends the stairs to the temple, folio 9 (recto), from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier

1602–4

Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569–1627)

See Also

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.