As a child will sometimes go to their mother first, so the penitent in this image is going to Mary, his Blessed Mother. One of the titles of Mary in the Litany of Loreto is Virgin Most Merciful (Virgo Clemens). As with all the titles in the Litany, this one expresses an aspect of her relationship to us, that she can intervene on our behalf before her Son, who does not deny her. To Jesus through Mary!

Mary’s bearing in this representation of her suggests meekness and compassion. "The law of mercy is on her lips" (Proverbs 31). "My heart is like melting wax" (Psalm 21). Mary attends to our human needs, including our need for mercy.

Ezio Anichini illustrated the Litany of Loreto in 1912. His work is Art Noveau, one of our favorite styles. He makes his Litany precise yet romantic, and emotionally engaging. A seamstress, unknown to history, took 12 or 13 of Anichini’s pictures and made them into exquisite needlework. They are regarded as masterpieces of beauty, design, and execution.

– 8.5 x 11" acid-free paper
– Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
– Cardboard backer
– Above story of the art
– Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

This picture looks great in a gold frame! We offer two frames, a thin gold frame and a medium-brown wood frame. If you would like us to frame it for you, please select which frame you would like above, under "Framing".

** IMPORTANT ** There is about an inch-and-a-third of white space around the picture, so the image is smaller than the paper.

Thanks for your interest!

Thanks!
Sue & John