The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed by Pius IV in
1854. The title of "Nuestra Señora De La Concepción Inmaculada" may
be properly assigned to a variety of Marian figures. These all refer
to the purity of Mary, although they may appear in a milieu of
different poses and allegories.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is shown here in two different
representations. The first shows Mary as a young girl with a crown of
roses, with her hands crossed over her heart, holding a dove, the
symbol of the Holy Spirit, and staffs of roses and lilies to her
chest, which represent her purity. She has a halo of stars around her
head and clouds framing her.
The second version depicts Mary standing on top of a blue globe and/or
a crescent moon, her hands folded in prayer and wearing a crown with
the sun shining from behind her. Sometimes Mary is standing on a
serpent which encircles the globe, symbolizing Mary as the second Eve,
as Christ is often equated as the second Adam. Frequently there are
two trees flanking her, probably a cypress and a palm, the cypress
symbolizing death and the palm signifying triumph over sin and death.
The halo of stars is sometimes transferred to the blue robe and Mary
may be accompanied by angels or cherubs.
The subject of the Inmaculada is very common in retablo painting,
although there is no particular patronage related to the image.