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As for artistic depictions - whether as a solitary figure or as part of a group - they are inexhaustible in both variety and number. Consequently, only a few examples can be mentioned here: as the Mother of the Lord, with the Divine Child on her lap or in her arms; as an intercessor for Christendom (orante); wearing a garment adorned with ears of wheat, signifying her role as the Mother of the Holy Eucharist; as a Queen, bearing a sceptre and crown; as "Help of Christians," with the head of a Turk atop a crescent moon at her feet; surrounded by the sun, as described in Revelation 12:1; holding a book, representing her as the "Seat of Wisdom"; holding an apple, in contrast to Eve; accompanied by flowers or a lily; holding a cluster of grapes, in reference to the Holy Eucharist; with a goldfinch - a bird that sings even though it feeds on thistles; revealing her breasts to the Heavenly Father, much as the Saviour reveals His five wounds (a motif often associated with plague imagery); cradling the body of Jesus or standing beneath the Cross (Vesperbild); or accompanied by a unicorn, a symbol of purity.
As the greatest intercessor, she gathers all the faithful beneath her mantle (the mantle of grace); she is depicted as a virgin standing upon the moon, with a serpent - holding an apple - coiled around the globe beneath her feet (referencing Revelation 12:1-3 and Genesis 3:25). She may be shown with a single star upon her head, or a crown of twelve stars; surrounded by roses, or seated within a rose garden - for, according to the Song of Songs 2:2, the rose is her flower (with white roses signifying her joys, red roses her sorrows, and yellow roses her glorification). She is sometimes portrayed with a sword - or even seven swords - piercing her breast, representing her Seven Sorrows. A tower with a gateway may appear beside her, alluding to the miraculous birth of Christ (as per Ezekiel 44:2). Other depictions include scenes from her life, such as her own birth or her ascent of the temple steps as a young child. It should also be noted that many images of the Virgin Mary depict her with a dark complexion; this is primarily a reference to the Song of Songs 1:4: "I am black, but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem." In other instances, this appearance stems from the fact that certain venerated Marian icons were carved from dark wood, or - in the case of painted images - have darkened over the centuries due to exposure to candle smoke (for example, the images at Altötting and Maria Einsiedeln) among others; consequently, depictions of such figures must also feature a black complexion.
Source: Franz von Sales Doyé, Saints and Blesseds of the Roman Catholic Church: Their Identifying Attributes, Patronages, and Biographical Notes, Volume 1, Vier Quellen Verlag, Leipzig, 1929
➡️ Mary - the meaning of the Blessed Virgin's name
➡️ Places under Our Lady's special patronage
➡️ Marian feasts - detailed list (pre Vatican II)
➡️ Marian feast days - contemporary list
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