French school; end of the 19th century.

French school; end of the 19th century.
"The Assumption of the Virgin".
Sea foam.
Measurements: 41 x 30 x 4 cm.
Carving made in sea foam in which the scene of the Assumption of the Virgin is represented. The Assumption of the Virgin is narrated in a late legend inspired by the rapture of the prophet Elijah and the Ascension of Christ, and was only declared a dogma of faith in 1950 after centuries in which belief in it had been considered a matter of personal piety. According to this legend, after the Virgin died, she was taken to heaven by angels in the presence of the apostles. The expression Assumption is significant: it is opposed to Ascension, like the passive to the active. That is, Mary does not ascend to heaven by her own means, like Christ, but is raised to Paradise by the angels. Byzantine art represents the Assumption of the Virgin's soul, collected by Christ on his deathbed. On the other hand, Western art depicts her bodily Assumption outside the tomb where the apostles had buried her. Therefore, a distinction must be made in iconography between the Assumption of the Virgin's soul in the form of a child and the Assumption of her glorious body, the latter being the one represented here. The European model presents Mary in a prayerful attitude, with joined hands, surrounded by golden light, carried by angels and leaving the open tomb at her feet, which may appear empty or full of lilies and roses. Because of an iconographic confusion, the Assumption will lose its original character to become Ascension, as it happens in this work. Instead of being elevated by angels, the Virgin flies alone, with her arms outstretched; the angels surrounding her are limited to form a procession.