A painting of Mary to offer the bridal bouquet

Before becoming a live wedding painter, my work was deeply rooted in creating Madonna paintings. And in many ways, that is where everything started.

Back in 2010 I painted by first Madonna commission for a bride. That year a dear friend commissioned me to create a painting for her sister’s wedding. The bride had a deep devotion to the Virgen del Rocío, a beloved representation of the Virgin Mary in Spain, and wanted to honour this connection on her special day.

In Mexico, it is a beautiful tradition during the wedding ceremony for the bride to offer one of her bouquets to the Virgin Mary, asking for her blessing over the marriage and the future family. Usually, the image of the Virgin belongs to the church and is placed in one of its side chapels. However, some brides choose to bring their own painting—one that becomes part of the ceremony itself.

When a personal painting is used, it is blessed during the wedding and later taken into the newlyweds’ home. In this way, it becomes far more than an artwork: it transforms into a meaningful keepsake of the day, and a cherished heirloom to be passed down through generations.

Bride offers her bouquet of flowers to the Virgin Mary.

That is how my journey into painting Madonnas began.

For this special commissions, I started to call them Madonnas—from the Italian mia domina, meaning “My Lady”—a name rooted in a long artistic tradition that flourished during the European Renaissance.

Many of these paintings have been commissioned not only by the couples themselves, but also by close friends or parents, offered as heartfelt wedding or anniversary gifts.

Our Lady of El Rocío. Oil on canvas mounted on panel. Gold leaf details. Painted by Elena San Pietrini. 2012.

PAINTING MARIAS

Across countries with a strong Latin tradition, many Marian devotions have emerged, adopting titles linked to the place of an apparition or miracle, or to a theological mystery within the life of the Virgin Mary.

Marian iconography refers to the way the Madonna is portrayed—her garments, colours, crown, scepter, posture, and accompanying elements—speaks with intention.

Blue, for instance, has long been associated with purity and heavenly grace; red may evoke love, sacrifice, or divine charity. Crowns can signify her queenship, while stars, moons, or flowers often refer to specific biblical passages or devotional traditions. In many cases, these attributes are directly connected to the story of an apparition. Through iconography studies we are able to identify each Marian devotion, but also to recreate Her image in each artist’s own style.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Oil on canvas with gold dust details. Painted by Elena San Pietrini. 2019.

The Madonnas I create often differ stylistically from their original references, yet they always preserve their essential iconographic elements, allowing them to remain immediately recognisable.

One of the most frequently commissioned Madonnas is Our Lady of Guadalupe. In my interpretation, I explore a brighter palette and an oval composition, offering a more contemporary sensibility while honouring tradition. Her identity, however, remains unmistakable: the star-filled mantle, the delicately ornamented gown, and the radiant aura that surrounds her continue to speak of her presence and meaning.

Our Lady of Guadalupe. Oil on canvas with gold details. Painted by Elena San Pietrini. 2018.

How to commission a painting of the Virgin Mary to offer the bride’s bouquet

Since 2018, I have been living and working in the Netherlands as a painter, specialising in bespoke Madonna paintings for weddings and families. While my roots are in Mexico, where many of my first commissions began, my work now travels internationally. I have created and delivered paintings for clients in Italy, the United States, Sweden, and France, among other countries—each piece carefully crafted to honour personal devotion, tradition, and the uniqueness of every story.

Over the years, my style has evolved, my technique has grown more refined, and my use of diverse materials has expanded. I have experimented with oils, tempera, watercolour, and acrylics, explored highly detailed underpainting techniques, studied mythology from around the world, and delved deeply into alchemy and antique iconography. All of this has helped me discover my own way of depicting Madonnas.

On my Patreon, you can follow this journey firsthand. I share sketches, studies, research articles, video tutorials, and comprehensive guides that document my artistic path over the years.

I warmly welcome you to explore this content and hope it inspires you, as it has shaped my own work and continues to influence the pieces I create today.

You can see my catalog on Instagram @elena.ilumina to learn more about what I have painted.

If you wish to commission your own Madonna painting, contact me here through my website: