These artworks are typically icons, Byzantine in origin or style, with some Italian examples from the 13th or 14th centuries, and older examples from the Middle East, Caucasus, or Africa. Statues are often made of wood or stone, painted, and up to 75 cm tall, falling into two main groups: free-standing upright figures or seated figures on a throne.

There are approximately 400-500 Black Madonnas recorded in Europe, including at least 180 “Vierges Noires” in Southern France alone, with hundreds of copies made since the medieval era. Most are located in churches or shrines and are venerated by believers, often associated with miracles that attract many pilgrims.

The dark hue of these figures has various speculations and controversies. Explanations range from the use of dark wood, darkening over time due to aging or candle smoke, to potential pagan origins or an intent to reflect darker-skinned indigenous populations. Another suggestion is that pre-Christian dark-skinned deities were re-envisioned as the Madonna and child.

Research into the Black Madonna phenomenon is limited, with early studies by Camille Flammarion (1888), Marie Durand-Lefebvre (1937), Emile Saillens (1945), and Jacques Huynen (1972) focusing on images in France. Leonard Moss, in 1952, categorized the images into three groups: those with physiognomy matching indigenous populations, those that darkened due to physical factors, and miracle-worker Madonnas found in areas of Roman legions.

The significance of the dark complexion to pilgrims and worshippers is also explored by scholars, who suggest that their unusual presence makes their shrines revered pilgrimage sites. Monique Scheer attributes the importance of the dark-skinned depiction to its connection with authenticity, stemming from the perceived age of the figures.

Notable examples of Black Madonnas include:

Africa:

• “Our Lady of Africa” in Algiers, Algeria
• Madonna and child in the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
• “Notre-Dame de la Délivrance” in Popenguine, Senegal
• “The Black Madonna” in Soweto, South Africa

Asia:

• Japan: Black Madonna statue at Tsuraoka Catholic Church, Yamagata Prefecture
• The Philippines: Our Lady of the Rule of Opón (Lapu-lapu City), Our Lady of Guidance (Ermita, Manila), Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Antipolo (Antipolo, Rizal), and many others.
• India: Dhori Mata and Korvi Mata
• Turkey: Sümela Monastery, Trabzon

Europe:

• Austria: “Schwarze Madonna von Loreto” in St. Andrä im Lavanttal
• Belgium: “Our Lady of Regla” in Brugge, “De Zwerte Lieve Vrouwe” in Brussels, and several others.
• Croatia: Our Lady of Bistrica, Queen of Croatia in Marija Bistrica
• Czech Republic: Black Madonnas in Brno, Prague, and the Troja Chateau chapel.
• France: Numerous “Vierges Noires” across the country, including those in Rocamadour, Chartres (Notre-Dame-de-Sous-Terre), Le Puy-en-Velay, and the Basilica Notre-Dame de la Daurade in Toulouse.
• Germany: Gnadenkapelle in Altötting, St. Maria in der Kupfergasse in Köln, and various others.
• Greece: Hidden church of the Black Madonna, Vamos, Crete.
• Hungary: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in the Cathedral Basilica of Eger.
• Ireland: Our Lady of Dublin in Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church.
• Italy: Black Virgin of Oropa, Madonna di Canneto, Our Lady of Tindari, and many others, including the “Mamma Schiavona” at the Sanctuary of Montevergine.
• Kosovo: Church of the Black Madonna in Vitina-Letnica.
• Lithuania: Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn and Our Lady of the Pine Woods.
• Luxembourg: Esch-sur-Sûre, Grund (Luxembourg City), St. John’s Church (Luxembourg City).
• Macedonia: Madonna icons in Kališta Monastery and Ohrid Church.
• Malta: Our Lady of Atoċja (“Il-Madonna tas-Samra”) in Ħamrun.
• Poland: The famous Black Madonna of Częstochowa at the Jasna Góra Monastery.
• Portugal: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré.
• Romania: “Maica Domnului Siriaca” in Ghighiu and “Madona Neagra” in Cacica.
• Russia: Theotokos of St. Theodore in Kostroma and Our Lady of Wladimir.
• Serbia: Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Apatin and the Serbian Orthodox Three-handed Black Madonna in Hilandar.
• Slovenia: St. Anne’s Church, Koprivna.
• Spain: Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza (Andújar), Mare de Déu de Montserrat (“La Moreneta”) in Catalonia, and Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (“La Morenita”) in Tenerife, among others.
• Sweden: Black Madonna with child in Lund Cathedral crypt and Skee Kyrka.
• Switzerland: Our Lady of the Hermits in Einsiedeln and others.
• Ukraine: Tsarytsya Karpat (The Queen of the Carpathian Land) at Hoshiv Monastery.
• United Kingdom: St. Mary Willesden (Our Lady of Willesden) and Our Lady of Częstochowa (Nottingham).

North America:

• Costa Rica: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, Cartago.
• Cuba: Nuestra Señora de Regla, Regla, Havana Province.
• Mexico: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Tepeyac, Mexico City.
• Trinidad and Tobago: La Divina Pastora, Siparia, and Our Lady of Montserrat, Gran Couva.
• United States: National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa (Doylestown, Pennsylvania), Black Madonna Shrine and Grottos (Pacific, Missouri), and various others.
• Canada: Black Madonna chapel at Ciociaro Club, Windsor, Ontario.

South America:

• Brazil: Our Lady of Aparecida or Our Lady Appeared (Nossa Senhora Aparecida) in Aparecida, São Paulo.
• Chile: La Virgen Morena (The Brunette Virgin) in Andacollo.

Summarized from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Madonna

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