Madonna Protectress

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Iconic depictions of the Madonna Protectress were a staple of devotional imagery in Western Europe during the late Middle Ages. The roots of this legend, however, date back to 10th century Constantinople, where a revered relic of Mary's mantle was said to have protected the city from invaders. By the 13th century, this image had spread throughout the Western world, where it merged with the ancient Germanic concept of asylum - a sanctuary that offered refuge beneath the noble lady's mantle. As wars ravaged Europe and plagues swept through cities in the 15th century, the notion of God as a punishing judge took hold, casting humanity under his wrath. Mary's intercession, metaphorically represented by her protective mantle, became a beacon of hope against divine retribution. This is perhaps why the sole surviving artwork from this era - a Bohemian medieval carving - emerged in the aftermath of the Hussite Wars, when Catholics invoked Mary's shelter as a haven in a chaotic world. The Protectress from Kostelec stands tall with her slender figure, refined neck, and oval face, all hallmarks of International Style carvings. As supplicants of both sexes gather beneath her mantle, they represent the full spectrum of medieval society - from kings and queens to clergy and commoners. Some faces are even rendered in a naturalistic style, capturing individual features with remarkable accuracy. The recent restoration of this masterpiece has stripped away its former veneer, revealing the fine qualities that have been prized for centuries.