Mother of Sorrows

Joshua Adam Risner, Oil and Gold Leaf
on traditionally prepared gesso panel

2025

Joshua Adam Risner’s painting serves as a striking contemporary interpretation of the Mater Dolorosa (Mother of Sorrows). The work depicts the Virgin Mary clad in a rich crimson mantle, her chest radiantly pierced by seven swords—traditional iconography symbolizing the Seven Sorrows of her life. While the composition utilizes the stylized, gilded halo and linear drapery common in Byzantine iconography, Risner infuses the piece with emotional realism, particularly in the soft, naturalistic rendering of Mary’s face and the single tear rolling down her cheek. Set against a weathered blue background, her hands are pressed gently to her chest in a gesture of mournful acceptance, creating a powerful fusion of sacred tradition and human emotion.