This tender mid-18th-century Sevillian oil painting depicts the Virgin Mary as La Divina Pastora, the Divine Shepherdess. 

Attired in a straw hat, decorated with flora, she rests in quiet contemplation. In her left hand, a single rose, a symbol of her divine grace. By her right, an affectionate lamb nuzzles, while others look on. It’s a gentle portrayal of nurture imbued with distinct Sevillian iconography. Above, an angel hovers amid a glow of celestial light, while in the distance, a stranded lamb is pursued by a delirious wolf.

The emotive image of Mary as a Shepherdess was conceived during the early 18th century by the Capuchin friar Fray Isidoro of Seville. Here, the ‘flock’ symbolism refers to the souls guarded by her protection, each gifted with a rose to represent her virtues. While the fleeing lamb is an allegory of those endangered by the perils of sin. In Sevillian Capuchin scripture, she’s known as the ‘rosa mystica’, the mystical rose who tends to the faithful.

During the mid-18th century, when this piece was produced, there was a noticeable shift from the grand undertones of the Baroque towards the lighter atmosphere of the Rococo. This is reflected in the gentler modulation of light and the evocative nature of the scene itself.

Stylistically, with its emphasis on ochres, greens and roseate flesh, it bears a stylistic proximity to the oeuvre of Sevillian painter, Juan Ruiz Soriano (c.1701-1763). Indeed, we’ve traced a similar work with a near-identical composition. It’s conceivable to assume that it could be a workshop piece by an assistant of this known master. But at the very least, certainly influenced by his hand.

Soriano is closely associated with the cult of Divina Pastora, and his followers often interpreted his works for display in convents and private homes. Our painting belongs to that circle - echoing both his composition and handling.

However you wish to read this painting - as an act of devotion, a representation of a time and place, or simply as a charming portrayal of man’s affinity with the natural world, it remains an enchanting addition to any collection.

Held in a later frame.