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The care taken in the painting of this Immaculate Conception, perhaps the artist's most notable piece of work, suggests it was a major commission. Executed in Madrid, it follows the Baroque Marian models established by masters such as Claudio Coello, Juan Carreño and José Antolínez. Despite being such a well-worn theme, De la Quadra achieved a work of quality in a vigorous style and with splendid colouring. He imbues the figures with the kind of dynamism typical of the end-of-century style, which foreshadowed the Rococo. The Virgin's ample cloak, blown by the wind, gives a powerful effect of movement, intensified by the child angels deployed in dynamically forced poses that flutter around Her in a continuous whirl. The lighting also has an essential role in the final effect, achieving a sharp contrast by setting the Virgin's blue cloak against the golden glow of the background. [Ana Sánchez-Lassa]

Selected bibliography

• Gutiérrez Pastor, Ismael. "La Inmaculada Concepción de Nicolás Antonio de la Quadra en el Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao", Urtekaria 1995 : asterlanak, albistak = Anuario 1995 : estudios, crónicas. 1996. p. 21-30.
• Gutiérrez Pastor, Ismael; Arranz Otero, José Luis. "Nicolás de la Cuadra, autor de los retratos reales de San Antonio de los Portugueses de Madrid", Ondare : cuadernos de artes plásticas y monumentales, n° 19. 2000. p. 472.
• Guía Artistas Vascos. Bilbao, Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2008. p. 18.
• Gida Euskal Artistak. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Eder Museoa, 2008. p. 18.
• Guide Basque Artists. Bilbao, Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, 2012. p. 18, n° cat. 4.