Transepts
The north and south transepts facing the altar are dominated by massive figurative depictions, the only figurative windows with writing in the Church Clerestory. They represent ‘The Annunciation’ - the announcement by the Angel Gabriel to Our Lady of the coming birth of Christ. The Annunciation is indicated by the text next to the Angel Gabriel, ‘Ave Maria’ or ‘Hail Mary’. Beneath Mary the words read ‘Ecce Ancilla Domini’, meaning ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord’, the words spoken to Mary at the Annunciation,[i] when the Angel appeared before Mary to tell her that she was pregnant with the Son of God. Importantly, the bible quote is part of The Angelus Promise, celebrating the Incarnation, for which the response is “Be it done unto me according to Your Word”. These words are significant as Mary gives herself and her 'yes' to God's will.
Angel Gabriel
Our Lady
Mary stands atop a crescent moon, similar to the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The crescent moon refers to the Immaculate Conception, particularly appropriate given the imagery of The Annunciation. The moon additionally alludes to the apocalyptic woman who had “the moon under her feet. She was pregnant and cried out in pain because she was about to give birth”.[ii] This biblical passage connects the trope of Creation, and the beginning and the end, visually and thematically linking recurrent concepts depicted in dalle in Our Lady’s.
[i] Walker Art Gallery, “‘Ecce Ancilla Domini’, Dante Gabriel Rossetti,” Walker Art Gallery (2019) para. 1, accessed Apr 10, 2019, http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/exhibitions/rossetti/works/early/ecceancilladomini.aspx.
[ii] Revelation 12:2.