Description
Commissioned work, not for sale.
Medium: stone ware clay
Born in the region of: Haute-Pyrenees, France
January 7, 1844 – April 16, 1879
Her Vision of Mary occurred between February 11 and July 16, 1858
On December 8, 1933 was declared a Saint by Pope Pius XI
Also known as: Saint Bernadette of Lourdes
Only 4ft. 7 inches tall and suffering severe health problems after contracting cholera as a toddler.
This simple young girl with the faith of a Saint steadfastly insisted that her visions over several weeks where most real in spite that others around her perceived nothing. The lady in white with a blue sash and roses at her Feet, the Vision who declared herself to Bernadette as: ‘the Immaculate Conception’ asked for a chapel to be build. The ‘Lady’ was later named “Our Lady of Lourdes”. The Vision promised to make her happy, not in this life, but in the next which Bernadette later mirrored in her statement: “The Virgin used me as a broom to remove the dust. When the work is done, the broom is put behind the door again”
The directive of Bernadette’s Vision was: “to drink of the water of the spring, to wash in it and to eat the herb that grew there”
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is now a major pilgrimage site being visited by close to 5 million pilgrims from all over the world seeking the healing powers of the waters.
Believing symbolism an important component of art and life in general, I made the clasp for Mary Queen of Heaven’s cloak in the shape of the Infinity symbol. The adoring attitude of saint Bernadette is seen in her posture of her extending hand as well as the other hand clasped to her heart. The hand gestures of Mary are welcoming and comforting. I hoped to achieve the awe inspiring, singular experience of this simple young peasant girl when confronted with such a vision.
