Lactation of St. Bernard

This scene illustratiing the lactation of St. Bernard is a page in a pocket-sized, illuminated Dutch prayer book. In the style of the Medieval Utrecht school, this manuscript would have been used to guide worship for both literate and illiterate peoples.

There are several iterations of the story, but in each the 12th century monk receives the Virgin Mary’s breast milk. A popular scene during the Middle Ages, depictions vary from a few drops of milk to a shooting stream, bordering on the erotic. However, the lactating Virgin signified the flowing life force and sustenance emanating from God.

"Madonna lactans" decreased in the Renaissance era largely due to printing presses. Images of nude bodies, as well as religious texts, were now more circulated, decreasing the desire for a partially nude Madonna. Because depictions of Mary were so prevalent in the Medieval era, she had amassed her own following and the decline in her lactating imagery may reflect an effort to curb idol worship.