Artwork

The Immaculate Conception (Joachim en Anna receiving the Virgin Mary from God the Father)

The Immaculate Conception (Joachim en Anna receiving the Virgin Mary from God the Father) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s oil on canvas, painted in 1757, depicts a celestial encounter titled The Immaculate Conception (Joachim and Anna receiving the Virgin Mary from God the Father). The work belongs to the Rococo period and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection in Amsterdam.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents the divine Father extending his arms from the heavens, offering the infant Mary to the expectant parents, Joachim and Anna, who kneel below. The Virgin hovers between them, surrounded by cherubic figures, symbolising the moment of divine grace and the theological concept of Mary’s sinless birth.

Technique & Style

Tiepolo employs a light, airy palette of pale blues, creams and subdued reds, while the brushwork remains fluid and dynamic, especially in the swirling clouds. The figures appear to float, creating a sense of movement that reflects the Rococo’s preference for elegance, grace and atmospheric illusion.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑18th century, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its European art acquisitions. Its provenance traces back to private collections in Italy before being acquired by the Dutch national museum, where it remains on display as an example of Tiepolo’s religious oeuvre.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, also known as Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.