Sedes sapientiae
Sedes sapientiae (“seat of wisdom”) is a term derived from the Lauretanian litany (the basic meaning of Sophia is “God's wisdom” in Greek). In allusion to the Old Testament throne of Solomon , the seated Mary with the baby Jesus (as embodied wisdom) on her lap is referred to as Sedes Sapientiae . It's a special one in the Romanesquefrequently used motif, which became most widespread in the 13th century. The baby Jesus is hardly portrayed as a child, rather he looks like a scaled-down adult. It is also used as a motif on seals from universities founded in the Middle Ages, for example on the seal of the University of Leuven . The older seal of the city's Universitas Studii Coloniensis (1388–1798) , the old University of Cologne , does not allow Cologne's patron saint to be adored in the stable, but in front of Mary enthroned with the boy Jesus as the symbol of (university) wisdom.
In contrast, the enthroned Madonna ( Maestà ) is shown less “privately” and often with entourage, more intimately the nursing Maria lactans (also called “Blessed Loss”).
Seal of the University of Cologne
Unknown Master: Madonna Enthroned , 13th Century, National Gallery of Art, Washington (DC)
Unknown master: Virgen de Marcuello , Spain 13th century, ??, Sarsamarcuello
Seal of the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich founded in 1472
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