The Immaculate Conception with Saints Francis of Assisi and Anthony of Padua 1649 - 1650

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione's "The Immaculate Conception with Saints Francis of Assisi and Anthony of Padua" (1649-1650) is a large-scale oil painting depicting the Virgin Mary ascending to heaven, surrounded by angels. The painting was commissioned for a church in Genoa and is a fine example of the Italian Baroque style. The scene is full of dramatic movement and light, with Mary's figure dominating the composition. Below, two saints - Francis of Assisi and Anthony of Padua - look up in awe at the Virgin. The painting is considered a masterpiece of Castiglione's career, and the artist's use of light and shadow is particularly noteworthy. This work is housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and provides an insight into the popular religious themes explored in Italian Baroque art.