Beneath Thy Protection

The title for this rendition of the Madonna and Child motif is taken from the Sub Tuum Praesidium, the oldest extant Marian prayer. The Virgin’s visage is courageous and dignified but registers a stark awareness of the forces of evil seeking to destroy her Son. Even as the gusts of a stormy world swirl about them, however, the Child sleeps peacefully, knowing that He is safe in her embrace. George and Polly’s striking portrayal serves as a reminder that it is in the protective arms of Mary that Christians encounter their Savior.