Spanish School, Immaculate Madonna, Oil on Canvas

Details

Description

Spanish school, 17th century
immaculate virgin with symbols of the litany of loreto

oil on canvas

101 x 76 cm.
… Read more Spanish school, 17th century
immaculate virgin with symbols of the litany of loreto

oil on canvas

101 x 76 cm.
in an antique frame (minor defects), 117 x 90 cm.

this work features an extraordinarily rich iconographic and theological structure, conceived to blend the figure of the immaculate conception with the visual exegesis of the litany of loreto, a series of poetic and allegorical images drawn from the song of songs and the marian hymns, used to describe the virtues and theological role of the virgin mary.

at the center of the canvas, the full-length figure of the virgin mary, crowned with stars, stands out in a moment of prayer, enveloped in a dazzling golden mandorla. At her feet lies the silvery crescent moon, its tips pointing upward, an astrological symbol of purity, the subjugation of earthly time, and the virgin's triumph over sin and the corruption of the world.

in the upper corners, we see replicas of the sun and moon, reaffirming her centrality in the christian cosmos.

as mentioned, the painting's defining characteristic lies in the perimeter frame with 22 illustrated panels, transforming the work into a veritable marian theological treatise.

analyzing the panels clockwise from top left:

1. Ivory tower (turris eburnea): symbol of precious purity, candor, and inviolable chastity.
2. Gate of heaven (janua coeli): symbol of access to eternal salvation guaranteed by divine motherhood.

3. Ladder of heaven (scala coeli): represents the mystical ladder that unites earth to heaven.
4. Morning star (stella mattutina): great radiant star announcing the birth of the sun of justice (christ).
5. Closed door (vision of ezekiel): a reminder of inviolate virginity, through which only the lord passes.
6. Well of living water (puteus aquarum viventium): an inexhaustible source of grace and spiritual purity.
7. Sealed fountain (fons signatus): emblem of pure grace and the perpetual virginity of mary.
8. Mirror of perfection (speculum justitiae): perfectly reflects the light and will of god, without any stain of sin.
9. Enclosed garden (hortus conclusus): symbol par excellence of the perpetual virginity of mary.
10. Olive tree (oliva speciosa): symbol of peace and mercy.
11. Cypress of mount zion (cipressus in monte zion): symbol of incorruptibility, immortality, and profound spiritual ascent.
12. Cedar of lebanon (cedrus exaltata): emblem of the spiritual heights, purity, and royalty of the virgin.
13. Mystical rose (rosa mystica): represents beauty, royalty, purity, and mystical love, identifying mary as the most perfect flower of spiritual creation.
14. Fire of the burning bush: the perpetual fire prefigures mary's perpetual virginity.
15. Tree of life (lignum vitae): wooden cross from which flowers bloom and are bound, alluding to the victory over death.
16. Dragon of the apocalypse (multi-headed monster): represents the defeat of evil.
17. White lily (lilium candidum): absolute symbol of mary's purity, virginity, and innocence.
18. Red carnation: symbolizes the sacred and faithful union between god and humanity.
19. Plane tree (platanus exaltata): symbol of mary's protection and maternal love, from the verse "i have risen like a plane tree by the waters."
20. Palm of cades (palma exaltata): symbol of victory over sin, justice, and royalty.
21. Tower of david (turris davidica): symbolizes mary's unwavering spiritual strength against the temptations of evil.
22. Fortified city (civitas dei): the "city of god" or the heavenly jerusalem, representing the church and the womb that hosted the savior.

both in terms of iconography and stylistic details, the painting can be placed in the spanish school of the 17th century—the so-called golden age—and therefore features the typical features popularized by great masters such as zurbarán and murillo. Thanks to their intense and profoundly spiritual works, they contributed to the extraordinary flourishing of this particular sacred subject, which was indeed one of the most important religious themes of the spanish baroque.

additional information:

the work is complete with an antique frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic .

we handle and organize the shipping of purchased works, both in italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.

contact us for any information; we will be happy to answer your questions. The painting can also be viewed at our gallery in riva del garda; we look forward to welcoming you to show you our collection of works.

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official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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