Artwork
La Aparición de la Virgen a Simón de Rojas
La Aparición de la Virgen a Simón de Rojas is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Gaspar de Crayer. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the Virgin Mary appearing to the Franciscan friar Simón de Rojas, a vision associated with divine compassion and Franciscan devotion in 17th‑century Spain. Symbolic elements include the open book held by the Virgin, representing the divine word and spiritual guidance, while the surrounding light emphasizes the heavenly nature of the revelation. Executed in oil on canvas, the composition unites naturalistic detail with emotive spirituality, reflecting Counter‑Reformation themes of personal piety and Marian intercession.
Technique & Style
The canvas measures 313 cm in height by 177 cm in width, giving the composition a markedly vertical, large-scale format suited to its devotional subject matter.
La Aparición de la Virgen a Simón de Rojas is an oil painting executed on canvas, a medium consistent with Gaspar de Crayer's religious work of the period. The canvas measures 313 cm in height by 177 cm in width, giving the composition a markedly vertical, large-scale format suited to its devotional subject matter. The work is classified as a religious painting and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, having previously belonged to the holdings of the Museo de la Trinidad. Among the depicted elements is a book, rendered within the broader religious iconography of the scene.
No further details regarding the specific handling of the brushwork, the condition of the support, or the stylistic qualities of the composition are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The work is held in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, with the inventory number 1639 after transfer from the Museo de la Trinidad. It entered the Prado’s holdings following the 1872 merger of the Trinidad collection into the national museum.
No documented exhibition history prior to its inclusion in the Prado’s permanent display has been identified in the available sources.
Overview
La Aparición de la Virgen a Simón de Rojas, painted in 1640 by Flemish artist Gaspar de Crayer, is a religious oil painting. Characteristic of his work, it reflects his role in disseminating the Rubens style throughout Flanders.
Context
Commissioned amidst the Counter-Reformation, the piece aligns with Crayer's production of altarpieces aimed at reinforcing Catholic devotion, reflecting the era's religious tensions and artistic responses.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gaspar de Crayer or Jasper de Crayer (18 November 1584 – 27 January 1669) was a Flemish painter known for his many Counter-Reformation altarpieces and portraits.
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