The History of the Black Madonna: Spirituals Made Visual

Join us as vocalist and Minister Nedelka K. Prescod offers a musical opening to a discussion on the depiction of Black women in Christian iconography. Crite’s celebration of the everyday woman, in tandem with his deep faith, led him to contribute beautiful and affecting imagery to the centuries-long tradition of the Black Madonna. Taking inspiration from the current exhibition Visions of Black Madonnas in the Fenway Gallery, this program examines that history from the Black Glass Madonna of 1500s Europe acquired by Isabella Stewart Gardner to Crite’s images of Mary as a Black mother on public transportation.

George W. Russell, Jr., Chair of the Harmony and Jazz Composition Department at Berklee College of Music, will accompany the musical introduction by Reverend Prescod.

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Host or Publisher Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum