1994.37.4 Virgin of the Immaculate Conception

This scene of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception includes the standard depiction of the Virgin standing on a crescent moon and triumphing over the dragon-like Satan, yet adds distinctive touches. Symbols of the Virgin—most notably, the lily—grow out of the heads of the putti, or angels, flanking the mother of Christ. The presence of St. Francis of Assisi at the lower right of the composition refers to the Franciscan order of friars active in the religious conversion of the New World. The figure of St. John the Baptist at lower left probably refers to the popularity of the Feast of St. John the Baptist on September 23; as the precursor of Christ, the Baptist was believed by some theologians to have also been conceived without sin.

Potosí (inhabited place): AAT: 7017074

Bolivia (nation): TGN: 1000046

Cuzco: TGN: 7005819

Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056

painting (visual works): AAT: 300033618

eighteenth century: AAT: 300404512

nineteenth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404513

Spanish Colonial (Spanish Renaissance-Baroque styles / styles and periods): AAT: 300107033

Christian holidays: AAT: 300264394

colonies: AAT: 300235115

crescent (motif): AAT: 300165510

devils (spirits): AAT: 300379005

Franciscan (Christian orders): AAT: 300148096

immaculate conception (Christian doctrinal concept): AAT: 300066049

Lilies (Lilium/lily/flowers/plants): AAT: 300375591

moon: AAT: 300386951

putti (motif): AAT: 300250465

Roman Catholicism (Christianity): AAT: 300073730

serpents (snakes/Serpentes suborder): AAT: 300250870

sin (religious concepts): AAT: 300309064

Spain (nation): TGN: 1000095

Spanish Colonial (Spanish Renaissance-Baroque styles / styles and periods): AAT: 300107033

Virgin Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary / Christian figure): DMA

Before 1956: Cleofas de la Garza (1870-1956) and Celia de la Garza 

By 1994: Virginia de la Garza and Mary de la Garza-Hanna, by descent from the above

1994: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Virginia de la Garza and Mary de la Garza-Hanna, and an anonymous donor 

The main source for this provenance is a letter from Eleanor Jones Harvey of the Dallas Museum of Art to Virginia de la Garza and Mary de la Garza-Hanna, dated June 16, 1994, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File.  

Apply to objects where number equals 1994.37.4