This 1627 painting by renowned Italian artist Guido Reni depicts the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary is shown in the center of the piece, dressed in vibrant pink and blue, surrounded by golden light and heavenly angels. Depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Reni are known for their stunning female beauty and devotional nature, and this piece is no exception. It is believed that this picture, hanging in the Cathedral of Seville for many years, influenced many generations of Catholic artists, including Bartolome Esteban Murillo.

Easily the most famous and sought-after artist of his time, Guido Reni painted under the patronage of many powerful Italian families that included Cardinals and even Popes. Reni was known to be neurotic and emotionally volatile, prone to suspicion of being hexed or poisoned by artistic rivals - it is unclear whether the latter was justified or not. Legends abound of Reni angrily quitting commissioned jobs or painting the likeness of his patrons into devils or sinners when he was poorly paid or insulted, but these may have been fabricated by those who sought to tarnish his reputation.

Some of the other best-known works of Guido Reni in the Catholic art world today include his famous portraits of St. Michael the Archangel, St. Matthew, and numerous depictions of St. Joseph holding the Christ Child.

This particular item, an archival-quality giclée canvas in a beautiful gold solid wood frame, comes in large sizes so that you can use it for a church. Handcrafted in Steubenville, Ohio, this touching devotional piece is sure to be treasured for years to come!

Available in several sizes, our oversize framed canvases are the solution churches are looking for, the statement your parish council wants to make, or the centerpiece of your Catholic home life.

Nelson framed canvases are second only to the original masterpieces themselves! Solid wood, deluxe gold frames and premium stretcher bars support our breathtaking giclée religious canvases. Giclée is a french word that means "sprayed ink," and it refers to our museum-quality printing process whereby 8 different colored inks combine to create millions of colors that are slowly sprayed into canvas material. This high-tech method of art reproduction offers the highest possible fidelity to the original work and results in a clear depiction with colors as good (or sometimes better) than the original painting. Under archival conditions, giclée canvases have a total color fidelity guarantee for 70-100 years.

For the faithful Catholic that wishes their sacred art to be blessed with holy water: canvases are sparingly water repellent, so while a typical blessing should not damage the canvas whatsoever, those who favor more robust uses of holy water should take caution near the art. ;)
~Sizes listed are of the image only~

( NWC-4060 )