The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (Tota Pulchra); with St John the Baptist, St Francis of Assisi, St John the Evangelist and St Anthony of Padua

1600

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (Tota Pulchra); with St John the Baptist, St Francis of Assisi, St John the Evangelist and St Anthony of Padua is a 1600 by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1600 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This small ivory triptych shows the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon, surrounded by saints. The carving is delicate, with tiny figures and flowing robes. Gold traces add a glow to the scene. These portable altars were carried or hung in homes. People used them for private prayer. The hinged wings could close to protect the carvings. Check out this piece at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

This small ivory triptych, created around 1600, features the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (Tota Pulchra) in the central panel, surrounded by symbolic motifs and Latin inscriptions, flanked by hinged wings depicting St John the Baptist, St John the Evangelist, St Francis of Assisi, and St Anthony of Padua. The piece’s Chinese-style frame suggests it was likely carved in Canton or the Philippines for Spanish patrons, possibly by Chinese artisans. The inscriptions on the scrolls appear to have been transcribed by someone unfamiliar with Latin, resulting in garbled text. The triptych’s…

Read the full account in the museum source.