San Juan Teitipac. Our Lady of the Rosary

In our previous post we considered the processional murals on the south wall of the portería vestibule at Teitipac. 

The east wall, with the Virgin of the Rosary (l) and the Deposition (r) 

In this post we look at the other fresco on the east wall, beside the Descent from the Cross. 

Adoration of The Virgin of the Rosary

The subject of this mural is the Presentation of the Rosary by the Virgin Mary to St. Dominic, or Adoration of the Virgin of the Rosary.

 
St Dominic and his dog

Here, the partially effaced figure of Our Lady of the Rosary is raised on a crescent moon amid swirling celestial clouds. Large, dark rosary beads descend on either side. 
   Below are the kneeling figures of St. Dominic on the left, holding the rosary and accompanied by his red collared Dominican dog, and to the right, a Dominican nun in the same posture—probably St. Catherine of Siena.

St Catherine of Siena

As with the north wall murals, a plaque representing the foliated Dominican cross lies beside the saint, below the feet of the Virgin.

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text © 2018 Richard D. Perry
color photography © Niccolo Brooker