Pictured is a A 12th-century statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, the Black Madonna, popularly known as `La Moreneta` the little dark one, in the Basilica at Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. The Virgin Mary is holding an orb, signifying the cosmos, in her right hand, while her left hand rests on the back of the Infant Jesus to indicate that the omnipotent king is her son. The Christ Child has his right hand raised in blessing and is holding a pine cone, a symbol of fertility and perennial life, in his left hand. The Throne of the Virgin is embossed silver, work of the goldsmith Ramon Sunyer, with two reliefs made by Alfons Serrahima and designed by Joaquim Ros i Bofarull that represent the Nativity and the Visitation.
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