The Immaculate Conception (18th Century) by Franz Sebald Unterberger - Public Domain Catholic Painting

The Immaculate Conception is a doctrine of the Catholic Church which holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin. In Baroque art, this doctrine was often depicted in paintings and sculptures, particularly in Italy where the Baroque style was very popular. Baroque artists often portrayed the Immaculate Conception as a beautiful young woman surrounded by rays of light, sometimes with stars or other symbols associated with the Virgin Mary. The Baroque period was known for its ornate and dramatic style, and this is often reflected in depictions of the Immaculate Conception in art from this time period.

Franz Sebald Unterberger was an 18th century South Tyrolean painter in the Baroque style. He was the most talented of the Unterberger family of painters, which included his brother, Michelangelo, and his nephews, Ignaz and Christoph. He was trained by Michelangelo and also spent time in Venice where he was influenced by the works of Giovanni Battista Pittoni and Giovanni Antonio Guardi. He spent much of his life in Brixen before returning to Cavalese in his old age. He never married and his works included altarpieces in South Tyrol, Trentino and North Tyrol, as well as a collection of small, Biblical portraits.