Late 18th Century, Immaculate Madonna

Late 18th century

Immaculate Madonna

Oil on canvas, cm 101 x 80

With frame, cm 112 x 87

The painting under examination, which can be traced to the hand of an 18th century artist, illustrates the theme of the Immaculate Conception, which stated that the Virgin Mary had been preserved from original sin until the first moment of her conception. The iconography of this episode generally sees the Virgin suspended between clouds and cherubim in glory, hands joined in prayer, wrapped by an aura of golden light: Mary is indeed the Mother of the Word and the Light that illuminates the way of all Christians. 

At his feet is depicted a crescent moon, considered a symbol of chastity, detail that originates from a verse of the Apocalypse by John the Evangelist (12, 1) which recited: «In the sky then appeared a great sign: a woman dressed in sun, with the moon under his feet and on his head a crown of twelve stars».

In this iconographic typology, sometimes the serpent appeared with the moon, sometimes twisted around the sickle: the serpent is placed here on the terrestrial globe, but always in a position of total submission to the Mother of God, who tramples his head, as an unequivocal sign of the victory of good over evil, of the Immaculate Conception over original sin, of purity and innocence over passions.

Particular attention deserves the face of the Virgin, rendered by the artist with extreme sweetness and candor: the look lowered, the cheeks rosy, a slight smile, the Immaculate embodies the human face of tenderness and hope. 

The object is in good condition