The Apparition of the Virgin of the Pilar
1775 Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
About this artwork
This oil painting depicts the legendary miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary to the Apostle James the Great on a pillar in Zaragoza. It serves as a devotional work showcasing the religious iconography central to the pilgrimage site of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.
Did you know?
This painting is one of the earliest known works by Francisco Goya, created just before he began his highly successful career as a tapestry designer for the Spanish royal court. It captures the legend of the Virgin of the Pilar, which claims that Mary miraculously appeared to Saint James in present-day Spain while he was preaching, leaving behind a jasper pillar as a token of her presence. The work shows the influence of his early Italian training and his mastery of luminous, atmospheric effects that would define his later style.
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The Apparition of the Virgin of the Pilar
Francisco Goya, 1775
