The artwork “Apparition of the Virgin to St Simon Stock,” created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo between 1746 and 1749, is an exemplary piece of Rococo art. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 66 by 42 centimeters and is categorized as a religious painting. Notably, it is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
In the artwork, Tiepolo masterfully captures the mystical encounter between the Virgin Mary and St. Simon Stock. The composition is dynamic and filled with dramatic movement, a hallmark of the Rococo style. Celestial beings and cherubs, draped in flowing garments, inhabit an ethereal space darkened by clouds, with light breaking through to highlight the figures. St. Simon Stock, positioned at the lower left, gazes upward in awe and reverence, clasping his hands in prayer. The Virgin Mary, surrounded by an aura of divine light, descends on clouds towards St. Simon Stock, accompanied by putti and angels. The artist’s use of vibrant colors, fluid lines, and the interplay of light and shadow create an awe-inspiring depiction of this sacred apparition, emphasizing the spiritual nature of the scene.
