The Assumption of the Virgin (or Virgin in Prayer)
Painting on canvas • Circle of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo or Spanish School (Sevillian)
Style & Movement
Baroque
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; employs chiaroscuro, sfumato in the facial features, and heavy impasto in the drapery highlights.
Creation Period
Mid to late 17th Century (c. 1650-1690)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 80 x 60 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A central female figure, likely the Virgin Mary, depicted in a state of religious ecstasy or assumption. She gazes upward with one hand raised and the other toward her chest. A cherub/putto is visible in the lower left corner, indicating a celestial or divine setting. The composition uses dramatic lighting typical of the Counter-Reformation.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows signs of aging, surface grime, and possible historical restoration.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $8,500
Auction Estimate
$3,000 - $6,000
Provenance History
Likely from a private European collection or ecclesiastical setting; housed in a period-style carved and gilded frame with blue pigment accents common in Spanish colonial or regional European styles.
Art Historical Significance
A notable example of 17th-century devotional art following the Sevillian school tradition. It reflects the influence of Murillo’s 'Inmaculadas' and the emotional intensity characteristic of the Spanish Baroque.
Notable Features
The distinctive blue and gold polychrome frame is a significant decorative feature that complements the Virgin's mantle. The atmospheric golden glow surrounding the head suggests a divine aura.
Condition Issues
Visible craquelure across the paint surface, slight yellowing of the varnish layer, and minor loss of gilding on the frame's edges. Possible overpainting in the background shadows.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning, varnish removal and re-application, and stabilization of any lifting paint. Use of UV-filtering glass and a stable humidity environment is advised.