The Immaculate Conception

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, a pivotal figure in the Spanish Baroque movement, was baptized on January 1, 1618, in Seville, and passed away on April 3, 1682. As the youngest of fourteen siblings, Murillo was born into a family with artistic connections, his mother hailing from a lineage of silversmiths and painters. His father, a prosperous barber and surgeon, provided a comfortable upbringing, which included inheriting property rights that afforded Murillo financial stability. Murillo's artistic journey began under the influence of late naturalism, gradually embracing the full Baroque style, with his work occasionally hinting at the Rococo through unique iconographic creations like the Immaculate Conception and the Good Shepherd as a child. A central figure in the Sevillian school, Murillo's influence extended well into the 18th century through his numerous disciples. Unlike his contemporaries, he balanced religious commissions for Seville's churches and private devotion with a sustained interest in genre painting, making him one of Spain's most celebrated artists abroad. His reputation was such that Joachim von Sandrart included a brief, albeit embellished, biography of Murillo in his 1683 work, highlighting Murillo's international acclaim.