Camino Photo of the Day: the Black Virgin Revealed

The original Black Virgin of Le Puy, carved of ebony and thought variously to date back to anywhere between the third and sixth centuries,¹ was looted and then burned by the revolutionaries in 1794. As it was burning, a hidden drawer popped open and a slip of parchment fell out into the fire. Nobody bothered to see what it said. The statue currently in the cathedral was reconstructed in the 19th century from drawings of the original.

This copy was likewise taken from the original detailed drawings. I found it in a small museum/artist’s studio near the cathedral. Unlike the version in the cathedral, which is vested and set high over the altar, this one is at eye level, and you can get as close as you like.

Date: 17 August 2023
Place: Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire Département, Region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Maps!

1. It was described in documents dating to the sixth century, so this is generally taken as the latest possible date of its construction.