The simple, but popular, phrase "Art imitates life" references the conundrums, essences, ironies and even beauties of life. But the truth is, art can also imitate a lie.
A popular image that is illustrated and carved in various medias and materials, is Mary, the wife of Joseph and mother of Jesus, standing upon a serpent (often upon its head). No matter how skillfully this piece of art is – it does not imitate life!
“So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”” (Genesis 3:14-15, emphasis mine)
If you get Mary standing upon the serpent from this passage, you’re getting the wrong picture. The seed who defeated the serpent of old is Jesus (Hebrews 2:14-15; Galatians 4:4; Revelation 12:8-10), and it’s in the gospel of Christ that we get the whole picture of victory over the serpent (2 Timothy 1:8-10).
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