This early 17th-century Spanish colonial oil painting depicts the Virgin Of The Immaculate Conception surrounded by an array of symbolic iconography. It’s a fine example of religious art, which spanned the Spanish colonies during this period.
At its core, the subject of this vivid work is the purity of the Virgin Mary, yet it’s also a celebration of motherhood more broadly. Standing front and centre, and dominating the composition, Mary is represented as a young woman with golden hair, in a praying posture. Her gown is richly adorned, and a light emanates from the celestial crown behind her head. Beyond, a landscape setting suggests the ‘closed garden’ or ‘city of God’, associated with Mary, which is awash with symbolism. Let’s explore each element.
Serpent and moon: A crescent moon rests upon a serpent to communicate her triumph over evil and sin.
White lilies: Referencing the Virgin’s purity.
Fountain: The Virgin’s endless source of spiritual alleviation.
Tower of David: The representation of her enduring strength and resilience.
A wellhead: Mary is the water that the spirit needs to live.
Red roses: Representing her enduring love.
Olive tree: A symbol of renewal.
Cedar tree: Suggesting her strength and beauty.
During the early part of the 17th century, decorative and complex images such as these were popular in Spain, and soon permeated its colonies. It’s challenging to uncover which region our painting derived from, but it’s comparable to those produced in Cusco, Peru, which erupted at this time with religious works. The Immaculate Conception became a popular image, as Virgin Mary replaced local indigenous divinities, such as Pacha-Mama, or Mother Nature, and marked a transitional point between Catholicism and pre-colonial beliefs.
But ultimately, the image is based upon earlier representations, which were presented in numerous ‘Book of Hours’ from the late medieval period. It’s within these that one sees the first stylised representations of a young girl dressed in a white garment, atop a crescent moon. And given the similarity with these earlier images, we’re certain that our painting is almost 400 years old. A rare and most beautiful piece.
Held in a later, perhaps 18th-century, cassetta frame with ornate gilt corner detailing.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 25½” x 32½” / 65cm x 82cm
Year of creation: c. 1630
Provenance: Private collection, Madrid, Spain.
Condition: Cleaned. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Two patched repairs on the reverse. Later stretcher. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Our reference: BRV2204
