Panel: MARIA REDEMPTORIS MATER: THEOLOGY, VISUAL CULTURE, AND THE REPRESENTATION OF THE VIRGIN



777.2 - THE MADONNA CONQUERED ME: MARIAN DEVOTION AND VISUAL CULTURE IN ERNEST RENAN'S REFLECTIONS

AUTHORS:
Germano N. (UNIVERSITà DI GENOVA ~ GENOVA ~ Italy)
Text:
Ernest Renan's Les Madones m'ont conquises offers a compelling testimony to the power of Marian imagery and devotion in shaping both personal sensibilities and broader cultural perceptions. This paper examines Renan's reflections through the lens of visual culture, highlighting the interplay between theological ideals, artistic representation, and emotional engagement. By analyzing key artworks and devotional practices referenced by Renan, the study investigates how the Virgin's iconography operates as a medium of affective persuasion, moral instruction, and cultural continuity. Special attention is given to the symbolic and semiotic strategies that render the Madonna both approachable and transcendent, fostering a dynamic interaction between viewer and image. This analysis situates Renan's experience within the broader European Marian tradition, emphasizing the reciprocal influence of literature, theology, and visual art in constructing devotional meaning and cultural memory.