The Assumption of the Virgin, Spanish Master 17th Century

This fine devotional painting, executed in oil on a copper support, depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The composition follows traditional iconography, featuring the Virgin in an upward-gazing, ecstatic pose, her arms outstretched as she is borne toward heaven by a surrounding host of cherubim and seraphim. Below, in a terrestrial landscape, a group of figures—likely the Apostles—is gathered around an empty sarcophagus, looking upward toward the miraculous event.
The use of copper as a painting surface was particularly favored in the 17th centuries for smaller cabinet paintings, as it allowed for an exceptionally smooth finish, highly detailed brushwork, and a luminous quality that has preserved the depth of the pigments well over time. The painting is presented in an octagonal gilt frame, which complements the elegant, vertical orientation of the scene. Oil on copper, 49 x 38 cm