One of the paintings that struck me the very first moment I saw it is
the 'Triptych of the Holy Rosary' by Hans Suess Von Kulmbach (1510,) which is treasured in
the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, Madrid. The two side panels show the Presentation
of Mary, with St. Joachim and St. Anne at the bottom of the steps, while the
other one shows Mary’s parents in a loving embrace. The center and more
prominent panel is very descriptive, and shows the Crucifixion encircled within
the Rosary beads, each Hail Mary symbolized by a rose flower. The 5 Our Fathers
are symbolized by 5 crosses, also symbolic of the 5 wounds of Christ. A scene
from hell is shown in the bottom, with two angels above and two others below,
one of whom is seen saving a baby and the other holding scales in his hands.
The 4 layers of saints are described as follows, from top, left to
right:
1. With God the Father and the Holy Spirit are
seen Mary and a variety of angels.
2. Melchizedek, David, Moses, John the Baptist -
Peter, Mark, Paul and Luke.
3. Lawrence, George, Erasmus, Stephen, Holy
Innocent baby - Gregory, Jerome, Nicholas, Charlemagne.
4. Clare, Agnes, Barbara, Catherine of Alexandria
- Anne, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Helen.
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