Diagrammatic Devotion and the Defensorium Mariae in the Funerary Chapel of Hărman Parish Church 1

A unique diagrammatic representation of Marian devotion, inspired by the Dominican Franz von Retz’s 15th-century treatise Defensorium beatae inviolatae Mariae, was identified in the funerary chapel of Hărman Parish Church (Transylvania), dating to 1486–1490. Unlike other mural programs from the Hungarian Kingdom, this image stands out for its specificity and theological depth, suggesting it was likely painted under the guidance of an iconographer familiar with Viennese academic circles or Retz’s original work. The study challenges conventional theories about the circulation of images in medieval art, proposing that such representations may have been derived from direct instruction rather than traveling models. By analyzing the spatial reframing and theological context, this research sheds new light on the transmission and adaptation of iconographic themes in late medieval Saxon communities.

Mihail, M. A. (2022). Diagrammatic Devotion and the Defensorium Mariae in the Funerary Chapel of Hărman Parish Church 1. Marian Devotion in the Late Middle Ages, 65–86. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003179054-5