Speaker: James Clifton, director, the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado. According to Catholic doctrine, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was from the moment of her conception free from original sin. Devotion to the Virgin Immaculate was strongest in Spain, where artists such as Murillo, Velázquez, and Zurbarán created the most enduring images of this woman born without stain. But how does an artist convey this special quality? How does an artist paint what can’t be seen? James Clifton explores the development of the definitive iconography representing the Virgin Immaculate and why it was so closely associated with Spain and the Americas.A reception to meet the speaker follows each lecture. Tickets $5 MFAH Members $8 Nonmembers + museum admission Secure your seats in advance! Tickets are available online by clicking the "Get Tickets" link above (printer required to print out ticket); by calling 713.639.7771; or on-site at any MFAH admissions desk. Questions about the content of this lecture? E-mail lectures@mfah.org