(Sorrowful Mother)
Woodcarving by A.Vonn Hartung
(Scroll down for Spanish text)
La Madre Dolorosa, a high-relief wood carving, conveys the agony of Jesus through the eyes of his mother, Mary. Specifically, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest, torturous scourging, trial, carrying of the cross, and finally the agonizing crucifixion and death at Golgotha.
The Sorrowful Mother contemplates the seven sorrows of her life, represented by the seven swords piercing her heart.
The Seven Sorrows of the Sorrowful Mother
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The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
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The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
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Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
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Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
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Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
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The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
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The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)
Mary holds the crown of thorns and the nails of the cross, gathering the cloak that Pilate draped on her son, mocking him as a king. In the manner of its form and folds, she appears to be with child, reliving the Annunciation and the time she carried him in her womb.
In the background are the walls of Jerusalem symbolizing the Pharisees’ rejection of his truth, their scorn, expulsion, and condemnation.
His triumph over death
He has been taken down from the cross, but his tomb is still empty. Hence, he is, we can imagine, symbolically passing through the Sacred Heart of his Mother. This truth of Faith as Love signifies His triumph over death. In other words, He truly was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Christ’s divinity is further symbolized in that the cross could not hold him, and the tomb could not keep him. Through his sacrifice and crucifixion (his atonement for our sins), and because of his resurrection, we may share with him one day everlasting life in Paradise.
ABOUT THE CARVING
This life-size wood carving, “La Madre Dolorosa” (Sorrowful Mother) by A. Vonn Hartung, was commissioned by Padre Julio Victor García for the chapel in “Casa de Niños Manuel Fernandez Juncos” in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is carved in a wood locally known as Itaúba, which is extremely hard, dense, and heavy. It comes from the Mato Grosso area in Brazil and is marketed as Pau Lope in the USA, where it is principally used for decking.
View contemplative video The Passion of our Lord
Buy a giclee print of this sculpture.
My profound experience carving La Madre Dolorosa
My commission to carve “La Madre Dolorosa Sorrowful Mother” was indeed a profound experience. The circumstances I know will interest you, so I will share them.
It was a harrowing time that I was going through, challenging both financially and artistically. Consequently, I was not sleeping well. I was indeed distraught!
I remember rising early around 4 am, going downstairs to the studio, and praying the Rosary. In fact, it has always been in times of extreme stress and personal crisis that I have turned to Mother Mary.
I don’t know what I was expecting her to do, but I just felt comforted praying her name and resting my burden with her. Indeed, I might have just been praying for strength and faith.
Anyway, I was lying on the floor in the position of the Cross with the Rosary beads in my hand when my wife Patty came down at about 7 am. She had rarely seen me pray the Rosary, and hence was somewhat taken by surprise. So, I explained to her that I couldn’t sleep and just felt a need to pray the Rosary. Moreover, I felt much better! Somehow, things seemed to have cleared up for me.
A miraculous phone call
At 8 am, the telephone rang, and it was Father Julio García, a Cuban priest from our local parish. He sounded very excited and asked if he could stop by within half an hour; he arrived promptly.
He showed me a picture of a painting of “Our Lady of Sorrows” from Quito, Ecuador. Mary was said to have wept real tears there in a Jesuit dining hall.
Indeed, this phenomenon has a substantial history. He subsequently asked me if I could either paint or carve it. Without reservation, I said I could do either one depending on what he wanted.
Father Julio asked me what the difference in the cost would be. I replied that a sculpture would cost twice as much. “Do the sculpture“, he answered straightaway. “I would be blessed to do the work! I responded enthusiastically. However, I must have the freedom to interpret it as I pray for inspiration.” He immediately and without hesitation declared, “Well, of course, without a doubt, you are the artist.”
We settled on the price, and I told him I required half the sum before I could begin. He then produced his checkbook and finalized the commission.
Glory be to God! We felt as though the Holy Spirit had entered our little studio, as the spirit of our Lord stirred within Mary at the Annunciation.
I completed the carving in two months, and she has lived in the chapel of Casa de Niños ever since.
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La Madre Dolorosa, una talla de madera en alto relieve, transmite la agonía de Jesús a través de los ojos de su madre, María. En concreto, la traición de Judas, el arresto, la flagelación tortuosa, el juicio, el llevar la cruz y, finalmente, la agonizante crucifixión y muerte en el Gólgota. La Madre Dolorosa contempla los siete dolores de su vida, representados por las siete espadas que le atraviesan el corazón.
Los siete dolores de La Madre Dolorosa
1. La profecía de Simeón (Lucas 2:25-35)
2. La huida a Egipto (Mateo 2:13-15)
3. La pérdida del Niño Jesús durante tres días (Lucas 2:41-50)
4. María se encuentra con Jesús camino al Calvario (Lucas 23:27-31; Juan 19:17)
5. La crucifixión y muerte de Jesús (Juan 19:25-30)
6. El cuerpo de Jesús es bajado de la cruz (Salmo 130; Lucas 23:50-54; Juan 19:31-37)
7. El entierro de Jesús (Isaías 53:8; Lucas 23:50-56; Juan 19:38-42; Marcos 15:40-47)
María sostiene la corona de espinas y los clavos de la cruz, recogiendo el manto con el que Pilato cubrió a su hijo, burlándose de él como de un rey; Por su forma y sus pliegues, parece estar embarazada, reviviendo la Anunciación y el tiempo que lo llevó en su vientre.
Al fondo se ven los muros de Jerusalén, que simbolizan el rechazo de los fariseos a su verdad, su desprecio, expulsión y condenación.
Su triunfo sobre la Muerte
Lo han bajado de la cruz, pero su tumba sigue vacía. Por lo tanto, podemos imaginarlo, pasando simbólicamente por el Sagrado Corazón de su Madre. Esta verdad de la Fe como Amor significa Su triunfo sobre la muerte. En otras palabras, Él verdaderamente era el Mesías, el Hijo de Dios.
La divinidad de Cristo se simboliza además en que la cruz no pudo retenerlo y la tumba no pudo retenerlo, para que a través de su sacrificio y crucifixión (su expiación por nuestros pecados), y debido a su resurrección, podamos compartir con él un día la vida eterna en el Paraíso.
ACERCA DEL TALLA
Esta talla en madera de tamaño natural, “La Madre Dolorosa” de A. Vonn Hartung, fue encargada por el Padre Julio Víctor García para la capilla de la “Casa de Niños Manuel Fernández Juncos” en San Juan, Puerto Rico. Está tallado en una madera conocida localmente como Itaúba, que es extremadamente dura, densa y pesada. Proviene de la zona de Mato Grosso en Brasil y se comercializa como Pau Lope en los EE. UU., donde se utiliza principalmente para terrazas.
Ver video contemplativo La Pasión de nuestro Señor
Mi profunda experiencia tallando La Madre Dolorosa
Mi encargo de esculpir “La Madre Dolorosa” fue una experiencia realmente profunda. Sé que las circunstancias les interesarán, así que las compartiré.
Fue un momento angustioso por el que estuve pasando, desafiante tanto a nivel financiero como artístico. Por consiguiente, no dormía bien. ¡Estaba realmente angustiada!
Recuerdo levantarme temprano, alrededor de las 4 de la mañana, bajar al estudio y rezar el Rosario. De hecho, siempre ha sido en momentos de extremo estrés y crisis personal a los que he recurrido a Madre María.
No sé qué esperaba que ella hiciera, pero me sentí reconfortado al orar su nombre y dejar mi carga en sus manos. De hecho, es posible que simplemente haya estado orando por fuerza y fe.
En fin, estaba tumbado en el suelo en posición de cruz con el rosario en la mano cuando mi esposa Patty bajó sobre las 7 de la mañana. Pocas veces me había visto rezar el rosario, así que se sorprendió un poco. Así que le expliqué que no podía dormir y que simplemente sentía la necesidad de rezarlo. ¡Además, me sentí mucho mejor! De alguna manera, las cosas parecieron aclararse para mí.
Una llamada telefónica milagrosa
A las 8 de la mañana sonó el teléfono y era el padre Julio García, un sacerdote cubano de nuestra parroquia local. Parecía muy emocionado y preguntó si podía pasar por allí en media hora; llegó puntualmente.
Me mostró una imagen de una pintura de “Nuestra Señora de los Dolores” de Quito, Ecuador. Se decía que María lloró lágrimas de verdad allí, en un comedor jesuita.
De hecho, este fenómeno tiene una larga historia. Luego me preguntó si podía pintarlo o tallarlo. Sin reservas le dije que podía hacer cualquiera de las dos cosas dependiendo de lo que él quisiera.
El padre Julio me preguntó cuál sería la diferencia en el costo. Respondí que una escultura costaría el doble. “Haz la escultura”, respondió de inmediato. “¡Sería una bendición hacer el trabajo!”, respondí con entusiasmo. Sin embargo, debo tener la libertad de interpretarlo mientras oro por inspiración. Él inmediatamente y sin dudarlo declaró: “Bueno, por supuesto, sin lugar a dudas, tú eres el artista”.
Acordamos el precio y le dije que necesitaba la mitad antes de poder empezar. Entonces sacó su chequera y finalizó el encargo.
¡Gloria a Dios! Sentimos como si el Espíritu Santo hubiera entrado en nuestro pequeño estudio, como el espíritu de nuestro Señor se agitó dentro de María en la Anunciación.
Completé la talla en dos meses y desde entonces vive en la capilla de Casa de Niños.
You are a living inspiration, Vonn. We are so grateful to have you and Patty in our lives!
Love, Kathy and Paul
Dear Vonn… you are truly a master carver. I had seen photographs of this beautiful creation and was very impressed. When I had an opportunity to see it in person and the level of workmanship was astoundingly and magnificently beautiful. I stood in front of it at length and I started to have a strong reaction to it. As I stared at it I began to feel a profound feeling of incredible sorrow. As if vibrational waves went through me like the waves of an ocean. It brought tears to my eyes, and the tears turned to sobs…it was as if I felt her pain! I had to remove myself from it’s presence, and still I could not stop sobbing. I am not a Catholic…. I didn’t know the story of the La Madre Dolorosa. I will never forget that experience. I just wanted you to know what your talent has brought forth and how powerful that carving is. Blessings to you.
Barbara…reading over your experience upon beholding La Madre Dolorosa in person, is deeply moving and reaches beyond emotions into spirituality. For me it seems as though you met the Holy Mother and were touched by her in a way that transforms ordinary knowledge. You may not be Catholic but I believe you were embraced by the MOST Christian of all women. You are Blessed!
When I first stood face to face with the Madre Dolorosa I was transported. The wanderings and conversations of others in that art exhibit faded away. I was alone, looking directly into the face of a suffering mother who had lost her innocent son to a horrible death. Her pierced heart and the nails that had pierced her Son were in her hands representing the source of her suffering. But it was all there, on her face, where the pain was displayed. I looked into her eyes until my eyes also filled with tears.
I have never before been so transported or so affected by any work in any medium as I was by the face of La Madre Dolorosa.
A profound thanks toyou, Vonn!
Paul, thank you for your most moving witness upon first seeing Our Sorrowful Mother in the exhibit at the State Department. Reading it and reading over again Barbara Moss’ reaction brings me back to first being touched by our Holy Mother and the inception of the commision to carve her. Having written about my personal encounter with Our Holy Mother through prayer, as I mention above in the article, I briefly recount it here: after praying the Rosary (the Sorrowful Mysteries) I received a call almost immediately from Padre Julio, who quite excitedly asked if he could come to our house as he had had a revelation. We were quite amazed when he appeared and offered me the commission to carve the Madre Dolorosa, and left me with a check for half of the money.
A miracle? God works in mysterious ways! I had no model and sometimes when I look at the carving I wonder, did I really carve her? I truly believe that Christ Jesus, at one with His mother, guided me in creating this carving.
Your transported experience is a testimonial to the power of Art. Traditionally such experience as you had comes through solitary prayer and meditation; that you were so engaged in the midst of a packed exhibit hall speaks of a deep spirituality, a spirituality generated by our Holy Mother and the events leading up to the suffering, crucifixion, death and miraculous Resurrection of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that transformed the world.
God Bless you for your witness!