Artwork
The Marriage of the Virgin
The Marriage of the Virgin is an oil painting. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the marriage of the Virgin Mary, a religious scene drawn from the apocryphal tradition surrounding the betrothal of Mary to Joseph.
The painting depicts the marriage of the Virgin Mary, a religious scene drawn from the apocryphal tradition surrounding the betrothal of Mary to Joseph. The work shows an angel, a man, and Mary as the principal figures. The presence of the angel reflects the standard iconography of the subject, in which a divine messenger oversees or intervenes in the ceremony, while the male figure represents Joseph, the suitor chosen to wed the Virgin.
Together, these elements convey the sacred union of Mary and Joseph as a divinely sanctioned event, a theme frequently treated in late seventeenth-century devotional painting.
Technique & Style
The Marriage of the Virgin is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a medium typical of late‑17th‑century religious works. The painting is dated to 1696 and depicts the marriage of the Virgin, with an angel, a man, and Mary as the principal figures. The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
While the sources confirm the use of oil paint on canvas and the painting's subject matter, they do not provide further details about the artist's handling, surface condition, or specific stylistic characteristics beyond its genre and date.
History & Provenance
The work is dated to 1696, with some sources attributing it to José Sánchez while others list the artist as unknown. It is executed in oil on canvas and depicts the marriage of the Virgin. The painting is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection; no further provenance, commission, or ownership-chain details are provided in the available sources.
Overview
The Marriage of the Virgin is an oil painting depicting a ceremonial gathering. The artwork portrays a significant event within a richly adorned interior, featuring multiple figures engaged in observation and interaction. A central pair, distinguished by their attire and placement, forms the focal point of the composition, surrounded by various attendees. The artist employs specific visual techniques to highlight key elements and create dramatic effect.
Artist & collection
