File:Madonna catacomb.jpg

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Summary

Virgin and Child with Balaam the Prophet
Artist	Unknown authorUnknown author
Title	Virgin and Child with Balaam the Prophet label QS:Len,"Virgin and Child with Balaam the Prophet"
Description	Image of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, in the Catacomb of Priscilla in Rome. It depicts her nursing the Infant Jesus. This is earliest known image of Mary and the Infant Jesus^[1] (independent of the Magi episode). The figure at the left appears to be the prophet Balaam pointing to a star (outside the frame).^[2] The star is from Numbers 24:17. Alternatively, Isaiah (7:14) predicts the birth of Jesus from the Virgin Mary.^[2]^[3]^[4]
Date	late 2^nd century date QS:P571,+150-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Medium	fresco medium QS:P186,Q25631150
Notes	The emphasis on the maternal love of Mary for the Child Jesus reflects the early Christian community's reverence for the Mother of God, and for its understanding of God's love for humankind in sending His only Son to earth to share in our humanity."^[1]
Source/Photographer	adapted from the quoted page.
Other versions	Sharpened image. Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin, the star above, from the from the book Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms, plate 22. Sharpened image. Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin, from the from the book Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms, plate 22 Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin, the star above, from the from the book Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms, plate 22. Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin, from the from the book Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms, plate 22 Sharpened image. Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin, the star above, from the from the book Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms, plate 22. sharpened image. Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin, from the from the book Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms, plate 22 Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin, the star above, from the from the book Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms, plate 22

↑ ^a ^b Byrne, Joseph. Out of the Depths...The Christian Catacombs of Ancient Rome: An Introduction. belmont.edu. "This Madonna and Child from the Catacomb of Priscilla is the oldest known representation of this most touching and human aspect of Christ's Incarnation."
↑ ^a ^b Lowrie, Walter (1901) Christian Art and Archaelogy, pp. 245−247 "It will be noticed that the man, who is clad in the philosopher's pallium, is pointing to a star. It is not perfectly clear what the picture represents, but the man is commonly taken to be a prophet foretelling the birth of Christ, and he is identified as Isaiah or as Balaam."
↑ Wilpert, Joseph , ed. (1903) Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms (Tafeln), p. plate 22 "Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin"
↑ F. Vigouroux , ed. Dictionary of the Bible, 1 "An ancient monument in the Roman catacombs confirms the written tradition. In a sepulchral chamber in the cemetery of Priscilla, which M. de Rossi dates back to the confines of the apostolic age, Mary (fig. 102) is represented seated, her head half-covered by a short, transparent veil, and carrying in her arms the infant Jesus, who turns towards her. Standing beside the virgin mother, a man holds a rolled-up volume in one hand and points to a star with the other. In this young and austere figure, dressed as a philosopher, M. de Rossi recognizes Isaiah...This image, painted at the latest in the first half of the second century, is therefore an illustration of the oracle of Isaiah."

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	Date/Time	Thumbnail	Dimensions	User	Comment
current	16:14, 21 March 2025		796 × 939 (706 KB)	wikimediacommons>Jacqke	photo of same painting, higher resolution, tonality closer to original painting, from https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1339#0024

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Mary, mother of Jesus

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[Depths-1] Byrne, Joseph. Out of the Depths...The Christian Catacombs of Ancient Rome: An Introduction. belmont.edu. "This Madonna and Child from the Catacomb of Priscilla is the oldest known representation of this most touching and human aspect of Christ's Incarnation."

[Lowrie-2] Lowrie, Walter (1901) Christian Art and Archaelogy, pp. 245−247 "It will be noticed that the man, who is clad in the philosopher's pallium, is pointing to a star. It is not perfectly clear what the picture represents, but the man is commonly taken to be a prophet foretelling the birth of Christ, and he is identified as Isaiah or as Balaam."

[Wilpert-3] Wilpert, Joseph , ed. (1903) Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms (Tafeln), p. plate 22 "Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin"

[4] F. Vigouroux , ed. Dictionary of the Bible, 1 "An ancient monument in the Roman catacombs confirms the written tradition. In a sepulchral chamber in the cemetery of Priscilla, which M. de Rossi dates back to the confines of the apostolic age, Mary (fig. 102) is represented seated, her head half-covered by a short, transparent veil, and carrying in her arms the infant Jesus, who turns towards her. Standing beside the virgin mother, a man holds a rolled-up volume in one hand and points to a star with the other. In this young and austere figure, dressed as a philosopher, M. de Rossi recognizes Isaiah...This image, painted at the latest in the first half of the second century, is therefore an illustration of the oracle of Isaiah."

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