Black Madonna and Child in Art | BAIA

Black Madonnas are found throughout the world. In sculptures, paintings, frescoes, etc. The image below is a fresco of a black Madonna and her child, Jesus, in Axum Cathedral, Ethiopia.

A fresco of a black Madonna and Jesus in Axum Cathedral, Ethiopia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many believe the Templars brought the Black Madonna from Ethiopia. No doubt there are several other fascinating stories and legends circulating. There’s even a cult. If interested here are two suggested books for additional reading:

• The Black Madonna in Latin America and Europe: Tradition and Transformation 
• The Cult of the Black Virgin

There were two men named Joe Cauchi who were both 20th century African-American artists. Very little biographical information is available about either of them. But it has been confirmed that the Black Madonna and Child pictured to the left was produced by Joseph M. Cauchi (born in 1918). The other Cauchi was born in 1905.

[  Black Madonna and Child by Joe Cauchi - Amazon.com ]

The exquisite painting below is by an artist I fancy but I know only by the name Ballenger.  Wish I could say more but like Cauchi, there doesn't seem to be much information about him or her or it (???) on the Internet.  Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places.  Nevertheless the artwork is quite lovely and evokes a mood of serenity and calmness.

Black Madonna and Child

Ballenger Art Print

Allposters.com

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Original source link: Black Madonna and Child in Art | Black Art in America Posted by Treathyl FOX on April 11, 2013