Joe, I also noticed that the dead Mary looked as if she had just had a baby, or at least that is what I was seeing before teacup pointed out the possibility of gang rape. Of course, either of those ideas could be over-interpreting the painting.

The phalluses and sexually suggestive shoulders and arms of the handmaiden are definitely there if you look for them, but they are not immediately obvious. It's a most interesting painting for all those things and for other reasons.

As for the fig leaves, I guess all those Michelangelo paintings and sculpture cried tears of blood when their genitals were removed and replaced by fig leaves and drapery. Lol

DaveL, did Poussin really think the painting was ugly? That's amazing. It's definitely dark and disturbing in a way, but aesthetically it's very fine.

I wonder what the history of this painting is.. that is, where it's been hanging over the years, what the Church thought of it, and how it was received by people.

And teacup, thank you for opening up the painting for me. There are so many layers now, making it much more interesting.

What do you think about some of those background images and faces? Have you thought about those yet? I'm curious.

Sue