“The Assumption of the Virgin in the arms of Christ”
Tokyo, 2024 commission work
Size: A5
Goat parchment
24kt gold
Gouache painting
This piece draws inspiration from the composition of the artwork of the same name created by the Master of Cesi in 14th century Italy. While there are numerous renditions of this theme, the Master of Cesi’s depiction is quite rare, portraying Christ welcoming his mother into heaven after the end of her earthly life with a tender embrace. The client felt a strong emotional connection to this depiction of maternal love and commissioned me to create a piece with the same composition.
As the original artwork followed the distinctive style of 14th century Italian altarpieces, I adapted it to the style of French illuminated manuscripts from the same period. Particularly regarding the attire, this era in France saw the frequent use of a blue pigment called pastel, hence I chose pastel blue for the Virgin Mary’s robe, in accordance with the customs of the time. However, I retained the motif pattern of the Virgin Mary’s clothing from the original artwork. I have never seen this motif elsewhere, and I believe it may hold a special significance.
