Turning back to the question of dating it has to be stated that the comparison of the Šiluva image to creations that are most similar to it and which
Fig. 12. The Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child of Šiluva. A virtual reproduction of the initial form.
Š I LU VA
The summation of the presented examples and the data about them enables us to maintain that the ear liest images of Mary that are very similar to the Šiluva image and which are found in Poland and Lithuania are dated from the period of the intersection of the 16th–17th centuries. Some of these images are considered to originate from Rome. Besides the images painted in Rome there could have existed an en graving (engravings) not known to the author of this article which could determine certain specific pro perties of the images of Mary of the Snows painted both in Italy and in Poland and Lithuania.
O F
by features of provincial fine arts; however, it has a strong influence on the spectator by its spirituality, accumulated mood, spiritual atmosphere created in it and is fraught with subtlety and mystery.
SH R I N E
Fig. 11. Our Lady of Paparčiai. The former Dominican church of Paparčiai, Lithuania. Photo from KPCA.
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T H E
were created in the end of the 16th – the first half of the 17th centuries does not contradict the dating determined on the basis of historical data, but still does not specify it. Thus so far it is possible to suggest a double dating of the Šiluva image. On the one hand, on the basis of the stylistics of the creation, general data on the church history and the fact that theoretically it is possible that the creation had been painted (for another place?) before regai ning the church, and being aware that in 1646 it was already famous for its miracles in the church built in 1641, the image can be dated the second–fourth decades of the 17th century. On the other hand, the analysis of the church history and the legend as well as peculiarities of the approach towards Mary relating to features of some dated images of Mary of Lithuanian shrines (Tytuvėnai and the Gates of Dawn) enable the author to consider the date of the third decade of the 17th century as the most cre dible one. In order to corroborate and specify it a