The Immaculate Conception with God the Father and Angels 1739

This drawing depicts the Immaculate Conception, featuring God the Father, angels, and the Virgin Mary, rendered by Francesco Mancini in delicate strokes of pencil. The figure of God the Father sits enthroned above the Virgin, his hand raised in a gesture of benediction. This hand—a motif that echoes through time. Think of the Roman emperors, raising their hands to address the crowds, or deities in ancient pantheons bestowing blessings upon mortals. This gesture evolves, yet its essence remains: a conduit of divine will. The upward gaze of the Virgin, surrounded by angels, recalls similar compositions throughout history. There is a collective memory at play, a subconscious yearning for purity and grace, that draws us to such images.