Convent of the Visitation in Georgetown. Exterior of Convent of the Visitation

The Theodor Horydczak Collection documents the architecture and social life of the Washington DC metropolitan area in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

The Visitation is a scene in the New Testament that depicts the meeting between Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary visited Elizabeth after the angel Gabriel had informed her that she was to become the mother of Jesus. When Mary arrived, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she declared that Mary was blessed among women and that the child within her was the son of God.

The Visitation is often depicted in Christian art, particularly in paintings and sculptures, as a tender and intimate moment between two expectant mothers. Mary is typically shown with a child-like expression of joy and wonder, while Elizabeth is often depicted as being filled with the Holy Spirit, with gestures or symbols that reflect her state of grace.

The Visitation is significant for several reasons. It highlights the close relationship between Mary and Elizabeth, and their shared experience as mothers-to-be. It also emphasizes the divine nature of the child within Mary, and the role that John the Baptist would play in preparing the way for Jesus' ministry. The scene is often interpreted as a symbol of the coming together of the old and new covenants, as Elizabeth, who was a descendent of Aaron, represents the old covenant, while Mary, who is carrying the son of God, represents the new covenant.