On Paper: Nativity Imagery from the Marian Library

Birth of Christ


Christvs Recens Natvs
F.D. Pillot
Circa 1820
Paris, France
Hand-colored holy card
Auguste Martin Collection
ML.028-24

 

Nativity miniature from Book of Hours, use of Rome
Printed by Pierre Viduoue
1523
France
Hand-colored engraving
Marian Library Rare Books Collection

Miniatures in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary illustrate events in Mary’s life surrounding the infancy of Christ. The Nativity is usually depicted with the prayers for Prime, the first canonical hour of daylight (around 6 a.m.). This and other books of hours in the Marian Library's collection may be viewed in the online exhibit, Mary in Miniature: Books of Hours in the Marian Library Collection. 

Holy Family
Late 20th century
Printed postcard
Marian Postcard Collection


Nativity 
Elizabeth Ambang (formerly Sister Mary Lisette, S.N.D.)
Circa 1990
Papua New Guinea
Print
Marian Library Art & Artifacts Collection
ML.0053.22
 


The Family
Marjorie Bereza
United Kingdom
Printed card
Auguste Martin Collection

 

Text from verso: “The wisdom of all the ages, the simplicity of humble folk, the true Christmas message — all are implicit in this beautiful and unusual study of an African mother and child watched over by the father.”

The card also notes that the original artwork was specially designed for, and sold to help, the South African Institute of Race Relations in Johannesburg, South Africa.



Madonna and Child
Ann Adams 
1991
United States
Greeting card
Mouth and Foot Artist Christmas Cards

In 1950 at the age of 23, two years after having her first child, Adams (1926-1992) was diagnosed with polio. Adams had been a student at an art school in Jacksonville, Florida, when she was diagnosed, and during her free time outside the iron lung in a polio ward in Augusta, Georgia, she found a way to return to her artistic passion. As her friend and fellow artist Dan Paulos wrote in a testimony about her, “She knew God’s plan would allow her to sit-up in a wheelchair and learn how to draw again, this time, not with her hands, but with a pencil held between her teeth.” Ann’s friends had greeting cards made with her drawings and sold millions over the years, giving her financial independence. One of Adams’ favorite subjects to draw was the Madonna. This image of Mary and Jesus at the manger is one of several of her works in the collection Mouth and Foot Artist Christmas Cards, which contains cards from several artists.

For more information about the work of Ann Adams, see “Lift Up Your Heart: Ann Adams and the Art of Living,” a piece by Dan Paulos in Catholic Digest (originally published in its full form in Our Sunday Visitor).
 

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