The Immaculate Conception

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo painted numerous versions of the Immaculate Conception, becoming the definitive interpreter of this subject. The Virgin Mary stands on a crescent moon, surrounded by angels and bathed in heavenly light. Her youthful beauty and upward gaze convey pure devotion.

Murillo worked primarily in Seville, becoming Spain's most popular Baroque painter during his lifetime. His soft, atmospheric style and gentle religious imagery appealed to both Church patrons and private collectors. This version hangs at the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville, the city where Murillo spent most of his career.