Ave Maris Stella

ink on bristol paper · 16 x 20 in · 2026 · commission (prints available here!)

This drawing was inspired by the commissioner’s favorite hymn, Ave Maris Stella, and done in the style of the traditional, black-and-white intricate lithographs found in the Old Roman Missal.

Mary, as Star of the Sea, is illustrated in the center with the Infant Jesus, surrounded by a mandorla, and flanked by four saints: St. Thomas More, St. Giuseppe Moscati, St. Alphonsus Liguori, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Each saint is depicted in their traditional attire, and holding objects indicative of their work and lives. A quote from each saint is inscribed in Latin around the border; they read as follows, respectively: Ac Dei in Primis (“But God’s first”), Ero Mors Tva O Mors (“I will be your death, O Death”), Qvi Oraverit ad Salvtem Certo Perveniet (“He who prays will be saved”), and Non Nisi Te Domine (“Nothing but you, Lord”). A banderole is illustrated above Mary with the title of the hymn, and, at the bottom, another one with a line from the hymn: Monstra Te Esse Matrem (“Show thyself a Mother”). The text is all handwritten in a traditional medieval Lombardic typeface, commonly used in the Old Missal.

As is fitting to the hymn, the background is a starry night sky with clouds and receding waves beneath Mary that spread out around the saints. The addition of the actual constellations in the sky was requested by the commissioner and inspired by the Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe in how the stars of Mary’s mantle correspond exactly to the constellations in the dawn sky on December 12th, 1531, when she appeared to Juan Diego. As such, the constellations in this illustration correspond to where they are located: Virgo (“Virgin”) is just to the right of Mary, Leo (“Lion”) is to the left of the Infant Jesus, and Corona Borealis (“Northern Crown”) is just to the right of Mary’s crown. The remainder of the constellations were then placed accordingly in the sky, again based on the Tilma. Interestingly, Draco (“Dragon”) fell right under Moscati’s quote addressing death! To the left of Mary, the following constellations can also be seen: Boötes, Coma Berenices, Ursa Major, Canes, and Gemini (albeit partly); and to her right: Ophiuchus, Libra, Hydra, Lupus, and Scorpio. The vertical sides of the border are made up of a repeating rope design- also tying to the nautical theme of the hymn- while the four corners depict a simple flower motif for Our Lady.

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Initial sketch to final piece :)

Up in its new home!

By Aveen Toma · 2026