This may be the earliest dated picture of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. This doctrine, which claimed the Virgin was conceived miraculously without taint of original sin, was controversial but enjoyed increasing popularity in the 15th century, becoming dogma in 1854. Although rejected by the Dominicans, the Franciscans supported it. A standard format & symbolism developed for such pictures. The symbols derive from the Bible, including the Book of Revelation & The Song of Songs. Here, the Virgin's purity is symbolised by a lily in a pure crystal glass. The painting, signed & dated 1492, comes from the Franciscan church of San Francesco, Pergola, central Italy. ...

Formerly thought to be by an imitator, recent cleaning has revealed the possible participation of Murillo himself. The figure of the Virgin repeats with slight variations of that in Murillo's picture in the church of Santa Catalina (Capuchin monastery), Ca ...

Create your own bespoke print of Diego Velázquez’s The Immaculate Conception from our collection. About this painting The Immaculate Conception, 1618-19 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 1974 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...

According to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. The cherubs here carry emblems associated with the Virgin, including the olive, palm, rose, iris, a mirror & lilies. The throne at the top of the background staircase probably represents the throne of Solomon, the Old Testament King of Israel. Much of the imagery associated with the Immaculate Conception was derived from the Old Testament Song of Songs, once attributed to Solomon. The identity of the donors is unknown. The man may be a canon or city official; the woman appears to be in mourning dress. ...

According to the New Testament Gospel of Saint John after his Resurrection Christ appeared to the disciples & showed them his wounds. Thomas was absent & when they told him that they had seen the Lord he would not believe them & said: ' Except I shal ...

Saint Thomas, who doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead, was convinced when Christ invited him to touch the wound in his side (John 20: 20-29). On the right the Franciscan Saint Anthony of Padua presents a donor, presumably the patron of the picture. In the left background, Saint Jerome is shown in the wilderness. The figures in the background right may be intended for other saints. ...

The nine figures in the background, who are variously styled the Corybantes or the Curetes according to different versions of this legend, are shown making music so that the noise will distract Jupiter's father, Saturn, from devouring his offspring. The pi ...

Murillo depicted Saint John the Baptist many times, almost always as a child with a lamb, a symbol of Christ. This work is the companion piece to the ' Infant Christ as the Good Shepherd' (private collection), whose history it shared until 1840. The two pictures decorated the altar erected in the Plaza de Santa María la Blanca in Seville during the festivities for the church's inauguration in 1665, & were painted shortly before. The inscription is taken from the New Testament (John 1: 29 & 36). ...

Christ is shown at the Last Supper holding up the Eucharistic bread. Probably painted in Ferrara in the 1480s as the door of a tabernacle for the bread & wine of the Mass. When closed, the door may have formed the central panel of a predella of a lost altarpiece, with ' The Israelites gathering Manna' (also in the Collection) on one side. The reliefs on the arch above Christ seem to depict a scene of ancient sacrifice. ...

This is an early work, dependent in style & subject matter on the peasant interiors of Isack's elder brother Adriaen. The painting apparently had a pendant, showing an interior with an old man seated by a fireplace & a woman washing a child, when it w ...