Immaculate Conception

The Catholic devotion to the Immaculate Conception was widely popular in Spain by the mid-17th century. The winged children carry objects that symbolize the Virgin Mary's purity, such as a lily, a spotless mirror, and a thornless rose. Here, Murillo builds on traditional representations of the Virgin's ascension into heaven by placing her atop a crescent moon. With her downcast eyes and hands raised in prayer, Mary appears as a model of humility for believers.