rosary workshop
- Open Rosary Gallery
PRAYER BEADS in
ART
AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF ONES FAITH
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The rosary has been worn throughout history not only by religious but devoted laity. There are periods of history, especially the 15th and 16th century when the rosary became stylish to wear. Coral was very popular. And for many, the more elegant the rosary the more impressive it became. This caused great concern amongst religious who would ban wearing of rosaries from time to time. + The purpose of this little museum is to show how the rosary was imaged by early painters as it was a tradition to include symbols or attributes with the figure to show interests or their love for God. The rosary was worn by many saints and martyrs so to picture it was important. For more resource information please contact the museums listed below. (Pictures link directly to Museum) MARY QUEEN
OF SCOTS - DISKS
& LARGER BEADS
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~ MARY, QUEEN of SCOTS ~
MARTYRED FOR HER FAITH - 1587 |
The sun shines through the beads of her rosary, appearing to be like droplets of blood. (for more information click icon) BELOW: She wears a 20 bead rosary or chaplet hooked to her waist. |
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(ORIGIN, ARTIST UNKNOWN) 
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY |
According to the
PORTRAIT GALLERY " 
... she wears a rosary with an enamelled cross showing the Biblical scene, Susannah and the Elders. This was taken to symbolize the triumph of truth over false accusation." |
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~ DISKS and LARGE BEADS ~ |
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1430 - 1500
Friedrich Herlin
Four women pray rosaries, 3 coral and one prays the counting disks. Flat disks attached to a leather thong or tied into a fiber cord are turned over one at a time as prayers are counted. |
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1430 - 1500
Friedrich Herlin
Kneeling Men counting prayers on large beads that may be wooden. large Paters or Gauds are of an unknown substance. |
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~ CORAL & POMANDER BEADS ~ |
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(French pomme dambre, i.e. apple of amber) A pomander, in its original concept, is a ball made of perfumes, such as ambergris, musk, cloves or myrrh or civet . it was worn or carried in a box or case often shaped like flowers and other natural shapes or a bead, as a protection against infection during times of pestilence and plague. (They were usually filigree or openwork so the aromas could escape) It was also used to modify bad smells as baths were not a daily event. + Pomanders were hung from a neck chain or attached to the waist or on a rosary. Royalty and wealthy preferred Pomanders of precious medals (gold or silver) and often set with precious stones while the common folk wore simple cloth bags around their necks. It was not unusual for a Pomander to have several partitions to divide different aromatic herbs, spices, crushed flowers or perfumes. The British Museum has an an early 16th Spanish pomander set with emeralds, that was found in the Thames. If only it could talk! + Others believe the aroma is like the ‘sweet incense of prayer rising to heaven’ and is given to God. The circle of beads will eventually be seen as similar to a wedding ring or God never ending. Women also enjoy adding small trinkets such as figurines, images and gemstones to their rosaries along with the scented dried fruit and flowers. + CORAL Coral was believed to carry special healing powers and give the pray-er or wearer spiritual insight, an open heart and protection against evil. Very popular usage in rosaries for children as well as adults. Coral was also believed to enhance ones memory. |
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~ COUPLES in ART ~ |
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Unknown Master (Städel Museum Frankfurt Germany)
< Image of Claus Stalburg des Reichen (1469-1524). Note differences in large Pomander beads and the count of 4 sets of 6 coral (Ave) beads with 3 gauds (Paters). |
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Unknown Master
(Städel Museum Frankfurt Germany)
<Image is of Claus Stalburg des Reiche's wife Margarethe of the Rhine. Hers holds 4 sets of 10 (Aves) and 5 Gauds (Paters) |
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~ PRAYER BEADS in ART ~
BELOW: Large coral Ave beads are punctuated with metal Paters suggesting the configuration may be smilar to todays's rosary. More portraits below showing attributes of the subject of importance in the painting. |
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from
PORTRAIT OF AN UNKNOWN WOMAN - 1527
Joos Van Cleve The Uffizi Gallery, Florence (to read more , click icon) |
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Peter Paul Rubens - Lugano -Castagnola, Switzerland hard to see in this image but shows the interest in symbolism of faith |
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Quentin Massys - Kunstmuseum Basel - Basel, Switzerland hard to see in this image but shows the interest in symbolism of faith |
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Domenico Ghirlandaio - Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid prayer beads hanging on the wall behind her head - red beads with tassel |
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Rogier van der Weyden - National Gallery - London see closeup below - single strand 3 lg white beads, 16 amber, tassels on each end |
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Unknown artist - The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York Peruvian (Cuzco) in origin and in the style of the arts of the Spanish Americas |
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Jan Gossaert - The National Gallery - London hard to see in this image but shows the interest in symbolism of faith |
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Paul Cezanne - The National Gallery - London hard to see in this image but shows the interest in symbolism of faith |
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Hans Galdung Grien - Royal Collection - Windsor from Schwbish-Gmund (rosary making center) showing early rosary, possibly filigree |
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Jan Van Eycks - The National Gallery - London Hanging on the back wall of this painting, a strand of 30 beads, tassled at each end |
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Albrecht Durer - the Uffizi Gallery - Florence figure of Durere's father holds and fingers large read beads in his hands |
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South Lowlands (Brabant) - Boxwood; Diam. 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm) Ex. coll.: Paul; J. Pierpont Morgan, New YorkGift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 |
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very interesting links to articles on beadmaking for prayers - wonderful for those working in depth on the history of rosary beads and how they were made and vended. |
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(tryptych, left panel)
ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS -1480 Hugo Van Der Goes The Uffizi Gallery, Florence (to see full image, click icon) |
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artist unknown |
Méditation des mystères du rosaire
15c (to see full image, click icon) |
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MONTEFELTRO ALTARPIECE - 1465
Piero Della Francesca Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan (to see full image, click icon) |
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17th CENTURY a study of Mary, Jesus and the rosary: |
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Pitti Palace - Florence, Italy |
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with angels at her feet - |
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Museo del Prado, Madrid |
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from
THE MAGDALENE READING - 1445 Rogier van der Weyden, National Gallery, London (to see full image, click icon) A magnificent example of a single strand of prayer beads (amber) with a tassel at each end. |
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from
THE MERODE ALTAR - PIECE - (Left panel) 1426 Robert Campin The Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (to see full image, click icon) + |
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+ BELOW: 30 crystal clear beads reflect their light on the wall behind making it hard to tell if there are one or two rosaries! An elegant Passementerie tassel, brobably of gold threads and boullion hang from each end. |
(to see full painting, click icon above) |
This work is filled with symbolism, including the 10 miniature 
paintings of the Passion of Christ around the mirrors edge. |
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And all the day in doing good and Godly deeds' Vision of Piers the Plowman by William Langland - 1370 |
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~ GERMAN MADONNA ~
ARTIST UNKNOWN |
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Dated 1800s
Christ Child holds a rosary on his left arm, appearing to be 46 (?) wooden beads strung with no spacing. Possibly ending in a tassel. |
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from PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN WITH A ROSARY - 1509 Hans Galdung Grien, Royal Collection, Windsor (to see full image, click icon) |
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see link above
PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST'S FATHER - 1490 (to see full image, click icon) |
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antique rosary museum index history index |
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