John Sheldon's photos with the keyword: Santa Maria Assunta

In the church of Santa Maria Assunta, Gavinana, Tuscany, Italy. The flowering staff seems to refer to the story of how a spouse for Mary (the Biblical mother of Jesus) was divinely chosen when his dead stick miraculously burst into flower. This 'non biblical' story seems to have been popular in Italy, it was the subject of Raphael's famous painting Lo Sposalizio. ISO 12800 in a dark corner and a lot of post processing. Joseph is supposed to be a model of male humility in service and duty, so perhaps he would not mind not being the point of focus.