Bidspirit auction | Immaculate Conception. Esteban Murillo Circle.

Immaculate Conception. Esteban Murillo Circle. 17th Century - Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 84.2 x 54.3 cm. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary elevated on a cloud, surrounded by cherub heads in the upper corners, her hands clasped in an attitude of contemplation and devotion. Her white tunic and blue mantle float with a delicate movement, reinforcing the sense of weightlessness and mystical ascension. At her feet, a group of winged cherubs hold flowers, palms, and branches, reinforcing the symbolic character of purity, martyrdom, and spiritual victory. The composition is organized on a vertical axis that emphasizes the central figure and the golden luminosity emanating from the background, enveloping Mary in a heavenly atmosphere. The workmanship reveals soft brushstrokes and a nuanced transition of tones, especially in the treatment of the folds and children's faces. The original Baroque frame, with its exuberant gilded carving, underlines the sacred nature of the work. This painting is part of the Murillo Circle aesthetic, reflecting the ideal of spiritual beauty of the Spanish Baroque of the second half of the 17th century. The sweetness of the faces, the symmetrical arrangement, and the directed lighting reinforce its spirituality and theological message. A work of notable visual and symbolic impact, it is deeply rooted in the Marian iconography of the Counter-Reformation.