The Immaculate Conception with Putti
Painting on copper plate, presented in a later tabernacle frame • Circle or Studio of Giovanni Battista Salvi, called il Sassoferrato (Italian, 1609-1685)
Style & Movement
Baroque Classicism / Roman School
Medium & Technique
Oil on copper with fine-layered glazing, sfumato, and controlled brushwork typical of Roman classicism
Creation Period
Mid to late 17th century (c. 1650-1685)
Dimensions & Format
Painting: 40 cm x 30 cm; Combined with tabernacle: 65 cm x 45 cm. Vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
The Virgin Mary is depicted in the traditional iconography of the Immaculate Conception, standing upon a crescent moon over a dark landscape. She gazes upward in a state of religious ecstasy with hands crossed over her breast. A choir of putti emerges from golden clouds in the upper left. The composition emphasizes purity, devotion, and celestial light.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; the copper support provides a stable base with minimal paint loss, though minor surface abrasions and aged varnish are present.
Estimated Market Value
$8,000 - $12,000
Auction Estimate
$6,000 - $9,000
Provenance History
Ex private German collection, Plauen. Stylistic evidence suggests an Italian origin followed by Northern European acquisition in the 19th or 20th century.
Art Historical Significance
Significant as a high-quality example of the devotional 'purismo' style championed by Sassoferrato. His workshop was known for producing high-quality copper miniatures for private devotion that reflected the clarity and sweetness of the High Renaissance.
Notable Features
The use of a copper support allows for a smooth, enamel-like finish characteristic of Baroque cabinet paintings. The architectural tabernacle frame, though later, provides an appropriate neoclassical aesthetic context.
Condition Issues
Slight oxidative darkening of the copper support visible in thinner passages; some yellowing of the old natural resin varnish; minor edge wear from previous framing.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning to remove aged varnish, followed by a light application of non-yellowing synthetic resin; monitoring for humidity stability to prevent copper corrosion.
Collector Notes
Ex private German collection in Plauten. Mid to late 17th century circle or possibly studio of Sassoferrato (Giovanni Battista Salvi) (1609–1685): oil on copper overall measurements with the tabernacle 65 cm x 45 cm and the painting 40 cm x 30 cm