In the 17th century, when the Protestant region was taken over by a Catholic sovereign, Jesuits supported this change by erecting Madonna statues wherever they could - one of which is the Madonna at the Kornmarkt. The statue became a focal point of religious worship in Heidelberg.

In 1685, the Kurpfalz (Palatinate), until then a Protestant region, was taken over by a Catholic sovereign. He (as well as his successor) wanted his subjects to return to Catholic beliefs and tried to encourage conversion by including more Catholic citizens in town and church administration, giving financial incentives to Catholics and starting a religious propaganda campaign. Jesuits supported this campaign by publishing and spreading pamphlets, organizing pilgrimages and processions and erecting Madonna statues wherever they could - one of which is the Madonna of the Kornmarkt.

The Madonna was erected by a Catholic fraternity. When the sovereign officially declared Mary the patron saint of the Catholic belief in the Kurpfalz, the statue became a focal point of religious worship in Heidelberg. The Madonna of the Kornmarkt demonstrates three typical characteristics of this period: Mary is shown as the Queen of Heaven, as a virgin and as a victor. The Prince Elector, in spite of his intentions to convert his "heathen" subjects, failed in changing their religious convictions. Many of the Protestants preferred to emigrate from Heidelberg.

During the first half of the 19th century, when citizens rebelled against aristocracy and clergy, the Madonna of the Kornmarkt lost much of her religious symbolic significance. At the same time, the statue was discovered and appreciated as real art work. Today, the Madonna is admired as a most beautiful fountain sculpture.