Beautiful and theological, this cosmic German holy card from the late 19th Century has Mary with the Holy Trinity. Mary and the baby Jesus are bordered by a Latin inscription which reads, Egredietur virga de radice Iesse et flos de radice eius ascendet. It is Isaiah 11:1 and means, A shoot will spring from the tree of Jesse, a new shoot will grow from his roots.

‘Virga’ means ‘green twig’ or ‘shoot’ (sometimes translated ‘rod’) and is related to the word Virgo, or virgin. The artist further plays on this association by having the tree of Jesse that Mary and Jesus are “sprouting” from be full of roses, for Mary.

The prayer on the back is a Marian prayer, written for her as the shoot of Jesse, by Saint John Damascene, an 8th Century monk from Jerusalem.

B. Kühlen & M. Gladbach were the publishers. Artist is anonymous.

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You might also be interested in our art print of this image,

Thank you for your interest.

Sue and John