Mary of the Sign - Icon

From the Women in Sacred Christian Images Icon Collection by Mary Jane Miller

Mary of the Sign - Icon

Egg tempera, 23kt gold
15 x 24”

In her book Mary in Iconography,Miller highlights twenty four portrayals of Mary; all her manifestations of love, her symbolism, and mystical meaning. Iconography is considered to be a scared art form which originated in the Byzantine Orthodox Christian church to teach religious doctrine. The collections is diverse in images gathered from her cult, characteristic that identify her and reverent history. Miller is knowledgeable of the long history and devotion to Mary, creating new work and preserving the liturgical tradition. Miller’s fascination with the Madonna images evolves within two realms: tradition and contemporary spirituality, as they merge in word and visual representation. Mary Jane Miller is a Master painter, painting Saint Mary in all her glory and majesty.

The work is powerful, offering face-to-face contact with ancient image and archetyple concepts. Contemporary sacred art is not just for church but all of humanity. Icons inspire messages from mystics illustrated through parable. They defy logic, distort time and space, and invite the viewer to pause and reflect. The work is valuable both then and now, going beyond those in authority or tradition.