Ignacio Chacón (XVIII) - L'Immacolata Concezione - Chacon inv: 1738

Refined and important antique drawing on paper, executed in ink and washes of gray watercolor (wash), depicting the classical iconography of the Immaculate Conception. The Virgin Mary is shown standing on clouds in a devotional pose, surrounded by a festive group of finely modeled putti and cherubs in perspective. Among the iconographic details are the lily branch (symbol of purity) and the crescent at the Virgin’s feet. Signature and Date: In the lower left corner the autograph ink inscription "Chacon inv: 1738" (Chacón invenit) is clearly visible. The indication confirms the artistic originality of the master of Spanish milieu or active in the European academic circuit in the first half of the eighteenth century. Support and Technique: Original drawing on eighteenth-century laid paper. Excellent plastic rendering of volumes and drapery, typical of the academic treatment of the late Baroque. Sheet dimensions (sight): about 33.5 x 24.5 cm. Total dimensions (with frame): 51.5 x 42.5 cm. Condition: Very good, considering the nearly three centuries of age of the sheet. Noted are natural and light foxing and a subtle and natural threadlike warp/crease of the paper on the left side, elements that confirm its era. Framing: The work is presented within a massive and elegant modern gilded frame with mat, professionally sealed on the back by the renowned restoration and framing workshop Guercini Massimo (Perugia).