Virgin of Sorrows

Abstract

Created in the 18th century, this mannequin of the Virgin of Sorrows is located in the church of Santa Maria dei Longobardi in Novi Velia. The figure is dressed in a black dress and mantle decorated with gold embroidered patterns. Fabric clothing was placed on the mannequin to conceal the wooden framework beneath, as she is not fully sculpted under the clothing. Swords are pinned to the center of the figure’s chest. A silver heart, safeguarded in an oval glass frame, is superimposed on the swords. Her hands are clasped together and hold a handkerchief. Upon closer examination, the hands bear a rough and eroded surface, indicative of the times the faithful touched the statue. When in need of divine intervention, the faithful would touch the hands and feet of a sculpted figure to establish a rapport with the divine. In this case, the wood has eroded with time due to continuous touch. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.