Immaculate Conception by Diego Velasquez

At the beginning of his career, Velasquez, following the prevailing tradition, often turned to religious subjects, but after moving to Madrid in 1623, pictures of religious content became for his work, in general, not characteristic, giving way to the palm of the primacy of portraiture.

The painting “Immaculate Conception” was one of the first works performed by Velázquez in the official title of master of painting. There were opinions that the young wife of the artist, Juan, served as the model for the image of the Holy Virgin. The cult of the Virgin Mary is common in Spain as in no other Christian country. It is clear that this cult did not ignore painting – for Spanish artists this theme was the most popular.