Catalogue

Sculpture

Inmaculada Concepción

Juan Martínez Montañés

Technical Datasheet

The sculpture represents the Immaculate Conception. It shows the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon with a metallic crown of twelve stars. The image stands on a cloud
studded with the heads of two cherubs, who had their wings open. The Virgin Mary wears a robe and a cloak which are richly ornamented with the estofado technique, using vegetal
motifs in shades of blue, red and gold. The Virgin clasps her hands over her chest in prayer, her face downwards with a melancholic expression in her classic features.

In terms of style and composition, this image is closely related to other representations of the Immaculate Conception by Martínez Montañés, having a great likeness to his famous
"Cieguecita", the Immaculate Conception image of the Cathedral of Seville. The posture, the hands position and the effect of the gathered-up robe... are the same as those of the aforementioned model.However, the handling of volume and the features suggest the participation of the artist's assistants.

The Jesuits, who were strong advocates of the Immaculate Conception during the famous controversy Seville lived at the beginning of the 17th century, may have entrusted Martínez Montañés with the creation of this image in order to worship it in their Professed House. In order to do that, they decided to convert the altarpiece devoted to Saint Anne, including this image in its central panel. In the alcove background is painted a series of Marian litanies symbols, such as cypresses, stars, palms, towers or mirrors.

References:

Hernández Díaz, J., Juan Martínez Montañés (1568-1649) (Guadalquivir, Sevilla, 1987).
Hernández Díaz, J., La Universidad Hispalense y sus obras de Arte (Sevilla, 1940).
Falcón, T., Bernales, J. et alii., Patrimonio artístico y monumental de las universidades andaluzas. (Sevilla, 1992).
Gómez Piñol, E., Retablos y esculturas de las iglesias jesuíticas en Andalucía: del clasicismo trentino al esplendor barroco del teatro sacro, en El Arte de la Compañía de Jesús en Andalucía (1554-2004) (Cajasur, Córdoba, 2004).
Bray, Xavier et alli., The sacred made Real. Spanish painting and sculpture 1600-1700.Catálogo de Exposición (National Gallery Company of London, Londres, 2009).
Falcón Márquez, T., et alii., Universidad de Sevilla. Patrimonio monumental y artístico. (Sevilla, 1986).
Falcón, T. [com.], Morón de Castro, M.F. [subcom.], Universitas Hispalensis. El patrimonio de la Universidad de Sevilla.Catálogo de la Exposición (Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, 1995).
Falcón Marquez, T. (Dir.), V Centenario. Universidad de SevillaCatálogo de Exposición. (Universidad de Sevilla y Fundación El Monte., Sevilla, 2005).