The Virgin and Child

Didkiemis, Šilalė district

The carver Domininkas Esulas (1886–?) lived in the village of Kiaukai in the district of Šilalė. He learned the art of carving from his father Antanas, who was widely known for his work. Domininkas began carving when he was tending livestock, and in time he became a famous woodcarver like his father. He made wooden sculptures and shrines, and also built brick shrines. His carving of Mary and Jesus is a rather precise replication of the miracle-working Madonna of Šiluva: Mary is wearing a mantle that comes over her head, she is holding Jesus in her left arm, and her right hand covers her left hand, with the two last fingers slightly bent. Jesus is holding up his right hand in a blessing, and in his left hand he is holding a book (the Gospels). Both are crowned with large royal crowns, emphasising their divinity.

People often placed sculptures of Mary and Jesus in shrines when taking vows regarding children, in the hope that Mary would help them to have healthy babies.

Text author Skaidrė Urbonienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)

Didkiemis, Šilalė district

The carver Domininkas Esulas (1886–?) lived in the village of Kiaukai in the district of Šilalė. He learned the art of carving from his father Antanas, who was widely known for his work. Domininkas began carving when he was tending livestock, and in time he became a famous woodcarver like his father. He made wooden sculptures and shrines, and also built brick shrines. His carving of Mary and Jesus is a rather precise replication of the miracle-working Madonna of Šiluva: Mary is wearing a mantle that comes over her head, she is holding Jesus in her left arm, and her right hand covers her left hand, with the two last fingers slightly bent. Jesus is holding up his right hand in a blessing, and in his left hand he is holding a book (the Gospels). Both are crowned with large royal crowns, emphasising their divinity.

People often placed sculptures of Mary and Jesus in shrines when taking vows regarding children, in the hope that Mary would help them to have healthy babies.

Text author Skaidrė Urbonienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)