Notes & Queries Archive
REPLY1851

BLACK IMAGES OF THE VIRGIN

By J. B. DITCHFIELD.

Your correspondent, MR. HOLT WHITE, throws cut a suggestion relative to the origin of the black doll as a sign at old store shops, which is ingenious, but not very probable. The images of black virgins are confined, I believe, to the south of Europe, with the exception of the celebrated shrine of Einsiedeln in Switzerland. The origin of the colour appears to be oriental, as MR. W. surmises. I send the following extract, in answer to his query on the subject. It is a quotation from Grimm, in M. Michelet's *Introduction to Universal History*; and, as your readers must be all familiar with the la…

Topics: Black Virgins, Religious Iconography, Mythology, Freemasonry

Locations: Einsiedeln, Switzerland, Naples, Europe