Icons of the Black Madonna

Why is the Madonna black?

The Black Madonnas are images of the Virgin Mary with a dark complexion. They are found across Europe — in Poland, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany — and most of them are very old, Byzantine in origin, and associated with miraculous reputations. The dark colour may come from centuries of candle smoke and darkened varnish, from the materials used by the first iconographers, or from the icon's own tradition; the Church has never defined an explanation.

Our Lady of Częstochowa

The most famous Black Madonna is the icon of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa, Poland — the Queen of Poland, kept by the Paulite monks since 1382, venerated by Catholics and Orthodox alike and credited with saving the monastery during the Swedish siege of 1655. It is the icon most often requested by Polish families, and copies of it hang in churches and homes around the world.

Other Black Madonnas

Our collection also includes the Black Madonna in an amber dress, the oval Częstochowa icon, and Black Madonna images in the classical half-length Byzantine form. See also our Mother of God icons and the A-Z index.

Finish and sizes

Each icon is printed on a solid alder wood board and finished by hand with genuine gold leaf. Several sizes are available, from small devotional formats to large icons for a family prayer corner or a chapel.

Learn more: guides and articles

• Why Is the Icon of the Black Madonna Important
• Are There Miracles or Special Stories Associated With Famous Icons