The Immaculate Conception
About the painting
Bartolomé Estebán Murillo (1617/18-1682) was born in Seville where he probably trained in the studio of Juan del Castillo (ca.1590-ca.1657). He received many commissions and worked especially for the religious orders but was also a renowned portrait painter. He may have undertaken a journey to Madrid where he could have met Diego Velazquez (1599-1660) however this cannot be confirmed. He died a few months after he fell from the scaffoldings in the church of the Capuchines in Cádiz, whilst still painting the main altarpiece.
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This painting derives from well-known compositions created by the Spanish Baroque painter Murillo. It shows the Virgin Mary carried aloft on clouds by a retinue of angels. This picture illustrates the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, a popular subject in 17th-century Spain where Marian devotion was particularly important. Murillo painted many versions of the theme, which appears to be his most popular compositions. This painting may precisely derive from one of them currently housed in the Dayton Art Institute. The present painting may be contemporary of the last period of Murillo or slightly posterior.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- 532-1882
