The Immaculate Virgin 1700 - 1762

Johann Georg Bergmüller made this pen and brown ink drawing of The Immaculate Virgin sometime in the 18th century. It depicts the Virgin Mary standing over a dragon and angel of death, symbols of heresy and mortality. Made in Bavaria, a region in the south of Germany, the drawing reflects the intense religious culture of the time, with its emphasis on the power of the Catholic Church and the cult of the Virgin Mary. The drawing likely served as a study for a larger painting or fresco, perhaps commissioned by a church or monastery. The Virgin's triumph over evil represents the Church's victory over heresy and sin. Bergmüller's Immaculate Virgin reflects the ongoing struggles of the time. The image reinforces the conservative values of the Catholic Church and the established social order. To understand the drawing more fully, scholars consult a range of sources, from religious texts and theological treatises to historical accounts of the period. These resources help us to understand the social and institutional context in which the drawing was made.