Visions of Mary

ASK WHERE ONE can find interesting works of art in the Los Angeles area, and almost everyone ticks off the names of well-endowed museums and high-priced galleries. Almost no one suggests a visit to local churches or missions. But there, overlooked among the altars and the pews, are some of the most beautiful and inspiring treasures, particularly those that celebrate the Virgin Mary.

From grand murals and delicate mosaics to graceful statues and vibrant stained-glass windows, Los Angeles churches’ so-called Marian art has gone virtually unnoticed even by some art historians. Although many people view the works as nothing more than devotional pieces for the faithful, Norman Nuererberg, art restoration consultant of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, sees them differently. When taken as works of art, he says, the collection is “much more important than people give it credit for.” Eunice Howe, chairman of the art history department at USC, says the art is fertile ground for study. “I was struck by how extremely traditional they are,” she says of Madonna icons at the the Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Hollywood. “It’s notable how little the composition and imagery has changed since the Medieval Renaissance.”

The Virgin Mary is “probably the most revered image,” Howe says. “She was someone people prayed to help them. She would intercede for them with Christ, and I think it’s also because of her maternal image that people find her approachable.”