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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Les vierges miraculeuses : Légendes et rituels / Marlène Albert-Llorca 2002 French Book 232 p. Paris : Gallimard, ; ISBN: 207076527X Thomas Izbicki Collection Development Coordinator Eisenhower Library Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD 21218 (410)516-7173 fax (410)516-8399 >>> [log in to unmask] 04/22/05 10:44 AM >>> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture > Thanks to Ann and John for replies about Rocamadour. > That brings up the topic of the cult in various and sundry places of these > "vierges noires." Anyone have any info on where this comes from? Why > "noires"? This sounds like something for the folklore folks. Jim...? Dear Marjorie, The literature on Black Virgins is wildly varied. There are all sorts of mystical and fantastic explanations for them abroad, but there is, more sensibly, a growing consensus that this is not actually a medieval phenomenon. The statue of Notre- Dame at Le Puy is perhaps the best documented case. The earliest images of this 12th-century statue depict it in naturalistic colours. It is only at the very end of the 15th century that it begins to be represented with blackened faces and hands (most Black Virgins are not entirely black; just the faces and hands of the Virgin and Christ Child). Recent restorations have increasingly been finding that quite a few Black Virgins were painted black after the fact, and the original polychromy has been uncovered. This does not really begin to explain why Black Virgins appeared, but it sets the problem in its proper context. It is essentially an early modern phenomenon (there are documented cases of Virgins being blackened right into the early 19th century), one of a number of very interesting early modern beliefs and practices concerning miraculous images. In fact, most of our documented knowledge of miraculous medieval images comes from early modern sources, making it extremely difficult to appreciate the earlier medieval beliefs and practices. This is a clear instance of the Middle Ages essentially being rewritten during that period, and much of that rewriting is now taken uncritically to reflect medieval realities. A recent fairly sensible book on Black Virgins is Sophie Cassagnes-Brouquet, Vierges noires (Editions de Rouergue, 2000). You might also be interested in a recent sociological study of contemporary miraculous Virgin cults, mostly in the province of Valencia in Spain, Marlene Albert-Llorca, Les Vierges miraculeuses. Legendes et rituels (Gallimard, 2002). I am convinced that it is only by extrapolating evidence back from contemporary and early modern sources that we will eventually have any clear idea of many medieval practices. It is, however, a methodological quagmire. Cheers, Jim Bugslag ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html