Madonna of the Lilies

Alphonse Mucha was a Czech painter, illustrator, and graphic artist, living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period, and best known for his distinctly stylized and decorative theatrical posters. He produced illustrations, advertisements, decorative panels, and designs, which became among the best-known images of the period

In 1902, Mucha was commissioned to decorate a church in Jerusalem dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Shown here is the final version of Madonna of the Lilies, one of the murals for the church. The project was canceled later for unknown reasons, so all that remains of this commission is this painting (and earlier versions of it), as well as a design for a stained-glass window, Harmony.

According to Mucha's letter to his wife Maruška, he conceived the subject as "Virgo purissima", thus depicting the heavenly vision of the Madonna surrounded with a mass of lilies as a symbol of purity. The seated young girl in Slavic folk costume carries a wreath of ivy leaves, a symbol of remembrance. Her serious expression and strong physical presence contrast with the ethereal figure of the Virgin.

P.S. Here are the 13 most beautiful posters of Alphonse Mucha you must know! <3