Ballenger Print
The Black Madonna (date unknown)
Fine Art Print on paper
100cm x 70cm
On loan from Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin
 
The Black Madonna
This Black Madonna and Child art print is by Ballenger. A friend in New York sent it to me in the 90’s. I remember being blown away by the image and spent a long time simply being immersed in it. I spent a long time trying to work out why I was so drawn to the image. It then dawned on me – this was the first time that I was seeing myself reflected in the life of the ‘holy family.’ They looked like me! It was as though a mirror had been held up and I was seeing a reflection of myself at the heart of the story of God incarnate – God becoming HUMAN!
(Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover)