IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Immaculate conception: translation

A theological doctrine that asserts that theVirgin Marywas conceived without sin. This doctrine did not become dogma until 1854, although PopeSixtus IVgave it official approval in 1475. The doctrine was passionately defended for centuries, particularly in Spain where the monarchy took up the cause.Francisco Pacheco, DiegoVelazquez's father-in-law, wrote in his treatise on art that the Immaculate Conception should be depicted by showing a youthful and beautiful Mary with long blond hair, a white tunic, blue mantle, with rays of light emanating from her head culminating in 12 stars. She should be standing on the moon, with its upper part forming a crescent. This, in fact, is how Velázquez painted hisImmaculate Conception(1619; London, National Gallery), except that his Virgin's tunic is pink, not white — one of many representations of the kind in the history of Spanish art, includingFrancisco deZurbarán's version of 1630-1635 (Madrid, Prado), Alonso Cano's of 1648 (Vitoria, Museo Provincial) and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's of 1665-1670 (Madrid, Prado). In Italy, images of theImmaculate Conceptionare not as common as in Spain, though some splendid examples do exist, includingGuido Reni's of 1627, now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.