Immaculate Conception by Cesare Mariani

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"The Apparition of the Immaculate Conception to Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Anthony of Padua," a fresco by Cesare Mariani from 1875.

Details of the Artwork

Artist: Cesare Mariani (1826-1901).

Medium: Fresco. Date: 1875.

Current Location: Located in the Church of San Salvatore in Onda in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

Symbolism and Theme. The painting represents the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, which holds that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. This belief was strongly supported by the Franciscan order.

The Virgin Mary: She is shown in traditional iconography, standing on a crescent moon, surrounded by light and angels, symbolizing her purity and her role as Queen of Heaven.

Saint Francis of Assisi: He appears on the left (with a longer beard). Saint Anthony of Padua: He is depicted on the right, holding the Christ Child and a lily, which is his shared attribute.

The presence of both Franciscan saints indicates that the work was probably commissioned by the order.

Cesare Mariani was a highly respected Italian artist and architect of the late 19th century, known for his academic and classicist style which was influenced by the Nazarene movement and Ingres. His style is characterized by a "neo-sixteenth century canon" that blended Italian artistic heritage with contemporary influences. 

He quickly gained a reputation as a master of large-scale religious frescoes. He was particularly noted for his skill in the difficult medium of fresco painting, for which a contemporary account praised his "rare power and skill".

The fresco "The Appearance of the Immaculate Conception to Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Anthony of Padua" was painted in 1875, placing it firmly in the middle of his mature career. 

Mariani was active as a painter of religious works throughout the 1870s and 1880s, a period where he was considered "for all intents and purposes, the official painter of Papal Rome and the Vatican". The painting was part of a larger project celebrating the Immaculate Conception after it was declared a dogma in 1854. This fresco, located in the Church of San Salvatore in Onda in Rome, is a prime example of his work during this prolific and highly celebrated phase of his life. 

Get a set of 3 restored images (including the one on this post), now on sale