Focus on this artwork and explore the Provenance.
According to Juan Agustín Ceán Bermúdez, the work was commissioned from Bartolomé Esteban Murillo by Justino de Neve (1625–1685). De Neve was a canon of Seville Cathedral and ecclesiastical president of the Hospital de los Venerables in Seville.  He commissioned the painting for his personal collection, and donated it to the chapel at the hospital in 1686. Belief in the Immaculate Conception had been on the rise in Spain since the 16th century and the country became its main defender, even fighting for it to be recognized as an official dogma of the Catholic Church, a goal that was eventually realized in 1854. The Immaculate Conception became a very important cultural symbol during this period, featured in many works of art.In 1813, during the Peninsular War, the painting was looted by Marshal Jean-de-Dieu Soult and taken to France. Soult left behind the painting's frame which remains in the hospital to this day.  The painting remained in Soult's possession until his death in 1851; the painting's alternative name is derived from his.The painting was auctioned in 1852, and acquired by the Louvre Museum for 615,300 francs; reputedly the largest sum ever paid for a painting at that time. It was exhibited there until 1941, during which time Murillo's art fell out of fashion; as a result the Vichy Regime agreed to return it to Spain's Francisco Franco in an exchange of artwork, along with the Lady of Elche and several pieces of the Treasure of Guarrazar. In exchange, Spain's Museo del Prado gave the Louvre the Portrait of Mariana of Austria by Diego Velázquez. In 1981, the Prado's restoration specialist, Antonio Fernández Sevilla, carried out a careful superficial restoration of The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables, in preparation for an exhibition dedicated to Murillo. A more in-depth restoration was carried out in 2007.
dogma Bartolomé Esteban Murillo Los Venerables Francisco Franco Lady of Elche Seville The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables Immaculate Conception francs Seville Cathedral Portrait of Mariana of Austria Catholic Church Jean-de-Dieu Soult Museo del Prado Treasure of Guarrazar defender Vichy Regime Hospital de los Venerables Louvre Diego Velázquez Juan Agustín Ceán Bermúdez canon Peninsular War Louvre Museum