MEETING MARIA – Around and inside Modena Chatedral

collana fiGURAE

The Cathedral of Modena and

the Abbey of Nonantola

speak to us by means of their figures.

A universal language, always alive,

made even clearer and more topical

by these handy booklets.

From whatever direction one arrives at Modena Cathedral, depictions of the Virgin Mary are found everywhere. They are a discrete but significant presence witnessing the faith of those who preceded us and their ability to express it in art.

On entering the Cathedral, we are surprised to see so many portrayals of Mary. She is everywhere: in the most visible positions as well as in the most remote corners; in the splendour of gold as in the darkness of under a staircase. Over a period of eight centuries, the Mother of God has been depicted in frescoes, sinopias, stained glass, paintings, bas-reliefs and statues.

Mary, a life to go over again together.