About this artwork
The Virgin Mary appears on a pedestal of cherubs' heads above a crescent moon, bathed in golden light. The figures below are her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne. The subject of the Immaculate Conception refers to the Virgin's own miraculous conception in her mother Anne's womb, not to the conception of Christ. It was a popular subject in Seville, but the inclusion of the Virgin's parents is unusual. Since Saints Joachim and Anna were particularly venerated by Carthusian monks this painting may have been made for a Carthusian monastery. There is, however, no other evidence to confirm this.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Francisco de Zurbarán (1598 - 1664) Spanish
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title:The Immaculate Conception with Saint Joachim and Saint Anne
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date created:Probably about 1638 - 1640
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:Arched top: 255.50 x 177.00 cm; Framed: 276.30 x 199.20 x 8.00 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
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accession number:NG 340
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gallery:
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subject:
Francisco de Zurbarán
Francisco de Zurbarán
Zurbarán was born in the province of Extremadura, but he trained in Seville and was to base himself there for most of his career, where he was the leading painter from about 1630-1650. He had a brief spell at the court of Philip IV in Madrid in 1634-35, painting a series of Labours of Hercules and...