Madonna With a Wild Strawberry

The Gothic painting Madonna With a Wild Strawberry was touched up many times over the centuries, initially making scholars believe it to originate from the Baroque. It depicted Mary sitting on a throne, with roses in her left hand, while the Infant in her lap held a globe. However, conservation work conducted in 1980 uncovered a 15th-century masterpiece of late mediaeval painting, covered by later “improvements”. In the original, the fair-haired Madonna is surrounded by angels; she holds the Infant in one arm, and in her other hand she holds the flower and fruit of a wild strawberry – symbol of maternity and virginity. A small green bird perches on Jesus’ hand. The painting found its way to the Co-cathedral of St Mary of the Nativity in Żywiec when it was acquired by Andrzej Kozatius, canon of the Kraków cathedral chapter. He is recalled in a painted portrait placed at Madonna’s feet. The latest conservation works, conducted between 2012 and 2014, have restored the painting to its former glory. Usually kept at the Museum of the City of Żywiec, this pearl of early sacral art goes on display at the Europeum branch of the National Museum in Krakow as part of the cycle Miraculous Power of Art. Dorota Dziunikowska, “Karnet” monthly)