I have chosen a few beautiful faces - intriguing, sacred and other worldly- for this short blog: a handsome, Modigliani like bust of a noblewoman; a regal looking saint - Santa Caterina di Alessandria (Saint Catherine of Alexandria) housed in a small church of the same name, in Taormina; a young Madonna, captured in Antonello da Messina's 'Annunication'; the Madonna crowned; and the sorrowful Madonna- a grief-stricken mother.

The Madonna, enshrined in sacred stories, is venerated in Sicily (and around the world). The undying devotion to her (along with that to numerous saints) in Sicily's smallest, remote ancient villages and vibrant old cities has given Sicily some beautiful art.

Those of The Madonna capture enduring images of a woman filled with compassion, suffering, grace, and serenity.

Nine faces

Detail from The Virgin Annunicate c.1476 by Antonello da Messina, Palazzo Abatellis, Palermo

Madonna del Carmine by Johannes de Matta 1541, Church of Carmine, Polizzi Generosa.

Santa Caterina di Alessandria, sculptor unknown, Church of Santa Caterina, Taormina

Detail from Madonna Col Bambino, tra i santi Pietro e Giovanni Evangelista, 1462, Palazzo Abatellis, Palermo

Marble sculpture of the Sicilian noblewoman, Eleanor of Aragon by Francesco Laurana, 1468, Palazzo Abatelis, Palermo

Detail from the 15th century Flemish triptych attributed to Rogier van der Weyden, Mother Church, Polizzi Generosa.

Detail from the contemporary 'goddess like' statue of Iside by Eolo Paul Bottaro, Archaeological Museum, Polizzi Generosa.

Detail from a 16th century sculpture by A. Gagini, Cathedral of Cefalu

Sorrowful Madonna, an Andalusian statue (date not known), church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Polizzi Generosa

(This beautiful statue is carried through the streets of Polizzi on Good Friday)

To return

I look forward to returning to Sicily in time. And to linger, revisiting lots... including things like these lovely statues and paintings (plus more) and spending my time taking in more of the details.

Saluti

Suzanne