The Young Virgin

The Young Virgin by Francisco de Zurbarán

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

46 x 37 in. (116.8 x 94 cm)

Classification

Paintings

Department

European Paintings

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Fletcher Fund, 1927

Accession Number

27.137

Tags

LiliesSewingVirgin Mary

Art Historical Context

In the hushed glow of Francisco de Zurbarán's *The Young Virgin* (ca. 1632–33), we encounter a tender portrayal of the Virgin Mary as youthful figure, absorbed in sewing while surrounded by lilies—symbols of her purity and innocence. This oil on canvas, measuring 46 x 37 inches, captures the Spanish Baroque master's signature realism, rendering fabrics, skin, and petals with astonishing tactile precision. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Fletcher Fund in 1927, it exemplifies Zurbarán's devotion to religious themes during Spain's Counter-Reformation era, when art served as...

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