The Immaculate Conception, Antonio de Pereda
The Immaculate Conception was a very popular theme in Spanish seventeenth-century painting. The subject references the Catholic doctrine that the Virgin Mary was born free from original sin, which is thought to affect all mankind after Adam and Eve's betrayal in the Garden of Eden. Pereda followed tradition by depicting the Virgin surrounded by putti carrying symbols of her purity, such as the white lillies. Despite his composition being somewhat outdated at the time, Pereda stands out for his Venetian coloring reminiscent of paintings by Titian that he would have seen as a court painter for Philip IV.
                                
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections:
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Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem
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The School of Athens, Raphael Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh
Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh The Mirror, Robert Reid
The Mirror, Robert Reid Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633
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Agapanthus, Claude Monet Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard
Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard Cypresses
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The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai
The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd
Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)
Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)