What would Mary wear?

[brianc]

I'm starting a drawing, (which will become a painting) of Mary and Jesus at Christ's birth. Most paintings of Mary have her head covered. I'm wondering, what would Mary wear on her head? Do the traditional head coverings I see in classic art represent what she would have worn, or are they interpretations influenced by the styles that era? This question is maybe not the right question, either.

Perhaps the real question is, what would Mary have been wearing on her head in the hours after the birth? Would her hair have been uncovered in a private circumstance like that? The timing of my drawing is to be in the near hours after the birth in a quiet moment with mother and child.

(Scan attached - difficult to get a good scan at this stage of light sketching. I started with a drawing of a woman with no head covering -- you can see her ear -- and have placed some lines where a head covering might go.)

- Brian

[uncertainid]

Brian,
I am certainly no Hebrew scholar or even student of Jewish culture, however I have been interested in this question myself and have given it some observation. What I have seen in movies made in the middle east by middle easterners is that women in that culture do not seem to cover their heads when alone with family. If there are visitors present, especially male visitors, the head and face are covered. I realize this may be a reflection of Muslim traditions and not necessarily Jewish traditions. The other thought is that if they were in an unheated stable and IF it gets cold in Israel, she may have covered her head for warmth. Of course that opens up the discussion of WHEN Christ was born, as it is generally accepted that the December date we celebrate is only a reflection of Christian adaptation of pagan tradition.
One last thought....as a woman, if I had just given birth in a stable unassisted and with no other women to care for my needs, I would make myself as comfortable as possible as soon as I could.
Hope this helps
sara

[brianc]

Thanks, sara

I think you are concluding: There might have been no head covering in a private moment. By the time visitors arrived, she might have put something on to recieve guests.

I'm also wondering if the preconcieved image of having her head covered may assist the viewer in recognizing the scene as one of antiquity. Do you suppose that any who view would be offended to see her without a head covering?

- Brian

[Cyndi L]

Without meaning to be indelicate here, I don't know any women ~ me included ~ who cared one whit what was or wasn't covered when giving birth! It's just not important in that moment, no matter how private and proper you may be at other times. It's hard to believe that Mary managed to keep her head-covering as intact as many paintings show. Would anyone be offended if you left it off? I don't think so, but I can only speak for myself. There's a painting I saw that I loved, in which Mary was looking just as disheveled as I always imagined she would be. Can I remember who painted it...? Of course not at this moment.

I love your sketch. The interplay between mother and child is one that I've always found to be very moving. Since I don't paint, here's a collage that I did of this subject:

http://www.why-not-art.com/mary-lg.jpg

[LarrySeiler]

there is a certain protocol that has developed in our culture...and I was relieved (while others were somewhat offended) by the newer release on the life of Jesus, called "Jesus" with Jeremy Sisto as Jesus...which I went out and bought.

It shows the more human side of Jesus, laughing with his disciples, splashing water on each other at a well...joking around and so forth. Some have a difficult time with such, some even going so far as to say it is disrespectful of Jesus...but, there is plenty of scripture to argue not only was He completely God in his deiti'ship...but fully man. He experienced all things like us, and having created the capacity to cry, to weep, to laugh, to rejoice should not surprise us that he would have engaged in such.

So, I guess I'm with Cyndi thinking that Mary too was fully human...and unlike the docile quiet manger scene so many of us see...I'm sure there was the stench of animal dung, the chill of the night's air, and the reality of cries of pains related to childbirth. It would not matter to me how one might portray such unless such were to ignore that which is human and common about such an moment common to mankind...

peace

Larry

[brianc]

Your comments have relaxed me. I'm going to just paint hair, and not worry about a head covering. Soon after the birth would have been very plain, but natural beauty in the plainness.

Brian.

[GreyWolf]

not sure if this will help or not, but I went to Israel TDY in 1998, and I learned alot while over there.

considering most of these women are still guided by ancient rules, I made a point to make sure I was covered correctly when in public.

By talking to the older women while there, I learned that yes, in private they wear the most beautiful silks... but..

While Mary was giving birth, it was in a stable. If I remember correctly what the women of Israel told me, her hair would have been at least covered with a linen scarf the color of wheat.....

but... you should do your drawing as YOU, as an artist feel the pencil guides you... not what others should consider "politically correct"

I can't wait to see this finished... it will be verra beautiful, I'm sure!!

[brianc]

Thank you so much for your comments.

Here are three treatments of the painting. (I love photoshop because I can try out colors before I actually complete the painting.) I started out with no head covering, then I added one just to see. It gives a totally different feel, which I lean towards. Perhaps that is the blue. Maybe I should try a wheat color for the head scarf. Lisa, how would such a scarf be worn?

- Brian

[Rosic]

Such an interesting thread... I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it... however, I have no insight to share with you other than what some others have shared... paint what your heart tells you. I appreciate the fact that you want to make this historically and culturally accurate but some great comments of encouragement have been made to help you either way you go. I agree with Larry... I like it when the human spirit shines through too. Great sketch Brian... I'm so glad you made baby Jesus a newborn.
Bernie

PS... Great work Cyndi!

[Cyndi L]

Originally Posted by brianc

Here are three treatments of the painting.

Oh, I love them all! Each has a different feel, and yet the look on her face ("I'm totally in love with this little person") shines forth in each. Tough choice...

[GreyWolf]

the head scarf should come a little farther forward on her face...

I love the blue background on the first one, and you have the scarf almost correct in the third...

but, you should pick which one... I love them all, and the facial expressions are absolutely wonderful!!!

[brianc]

GreyWolf, not sure what you mean about the scarf coming forward... You comment about the wheat color of the scarf is very helpful. I'm trying to place the scarf so I can see the ear. I've been looking at classical paintings and many of the work very hard to place a scarf but still show the ear. Not an easy or natural thing, I think. I'm thinking a looser, less formal scarf fits the occasion .

Here is my latest direction. Watercolors come out on Friday.

Comments and criticism welcome.

BrianC

[rafi]

It is difficult to be certain how she would have dressed in what company 2000 years ago, but this is what I reckon. Jewish law states that a woman's hair is considered to be a part of the body that needs to be covered. Current day practise varies whether this is in public or also in private (or not at all, but we will leave that option out). A stable is a public space and I understand that there were all kinds of visitors who came into the stable so she woould definitely have covered her hair. In any case, I also remember that the text specifies that she was particularly pious (and therefore not to be suspected of adultery) so she would definitely have gone to the strictest letter of the law.

In addition Bethlehem is a very cold place to be in the middle of the night in late December and probably more so then without urban heating effects. She and the baby would be warmly dressed.

[brianc]

Rafi,

Jewish law states that a woman's hair is considered to be a part of the body that needs to be covered.

What would be considered "covered"? Would that mean that no hair could be seen at all?

- Brian

[GreyWolf]

hope you don't mind...

this would be close to what it would look like...