The Sacristy of the Virgin of the Basílica del Pilar: Breviary of Marian Apology
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article analyses the iconographic cycle of the Sacristy of the Virgin in the Basílica del Pilar, with the aim of unveiling the complex system of visual symbols present in its bas-reliefs. Through a typological and exegetical approach, the study examines the various Marian representations, highlighting their connection with Old Testament, Patristic, Scholastic, and Baroque traditions. The research demonstrates how these visual emblems embody the principles of Divine Motherhood, purity, Co-Redemptrix, and the Virgin’s spiritual superiority. Furthermore, it explores the relationship between the carvings and hermeneutic and emblematic literature, revealing how tradition and devotion intertwine to configure a genuine Baroque iconographic breviary. The findings allow for an interpretation of Mary not only as an object of worship but also as a theological paradigm and aesthetic model of divine perfection, thus offering a comprehensive vision of Baroque Mariology and of the didactic and devotional function of the Sacristy of the Virgin.
Source: Religions
DOI: 10.3390/rel17010126
Author: Esther Ortiz
Language: English
Subfield: Conservation
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W7125490674