statue
Basilica Museum
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| Object Name: | statue |
| Classification: | man-made artefact |
| Category: | religious communication artefact |
| Sub-category: | religious ceremonial artefact |
| Discipline: | church history local history |
| Material: | plaster paint |
| Technique: | moulded |
| Accession Number: | Noaccession03 |
| Exhibition Title: | Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima |
| Origin-Province: | Santarém |
| Origin-Country: | Portugal |
| Origin-Continent: | Southern Europe |
| Use-Province: | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Use-Country: | Canada |
| Culture: | Portuguese |
| Cultural Context: | religious worship |
| Earliest Production Date: | c 1955 |
| Period: | mid 20th century |
| Description: | The Our Lady of Fatima statue in the Basilica Cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary wearing a white hooded robe over a light blue robe and standing upon a rock. Her hands are pressed together in prayer in front of her chest, and a pink flower and a set of rosary beads have been placed around them. The robes have been outlined with gold trim; a gold Star of David has been placed on the base of Mary's robes, and a gold crown has been placed upon her head. A backdrop has been placed behind the statue that says "Pray the Rosary Daily" and statues of three small children and sheep have been placed kneeling at Mary's feet, symbolizing the children that had seen her at Fátima, Portugal. |
| Narrative: | The Our Lady of Fatima statue was donated on May 28, 1955 from a group of Portuguese fishermen during the Basilica's Centenary Celebrations. The statue made it's way to the Basilica by way of a lengthy procession through the streets of downtown St. John's, involving some 4,000 Portuguese fishermen. The statues were presented to the Archbishop by Reverend Father J. A. Rosa, chaplain of the fleet, on behalf of the officers and crews of the fleet, and the people of Portugal. An identical copy of this statue is also on display in Fátima, Portugal. |
| History of Use: | Presented by the Portuguese people to the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in 1955, these statues were used in a special ceremony before being moved to a grotto near the High Altar. The grotto is often visited by people when they visit the Basilica, including many Portuguese fishermen while they are in port. |
| Quantity: | 1 |
| Number of Components: | 1 |
| Component Part Names: | statue |
| Subject/Image: | fine art sculpture religious statue |
| Iconographic Meaning: | Our Lady of Fatima is the title given to the Virgin Mary by Catholics and others who believe that she appeared monthly, for several months in 1917, to three children in Fátima, Portugal. |
| Institution: | Basilica Museum |
| Institution City: | St. John's |
| Institution Province: | Newfoundland & Labrador |
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