Ecce Agnus Dei
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Spanish, 1617–1682)
c. 1655
View the original$29
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Materials & printing
Archival matte paper, 189 g/m² (10.3 mil), sourced from Japan, printed with multicolor water-based inkjet so every brushstroke stays crisp. Framed prints arrive ready to hang in a .75″ ayous-wood frame with an acrylite front. Sized to standard frames by cropping, never stretching — at most about 3% comes off one edge, which isn’t noticeable on most pieces, and we only offer a size when it stays that small.
Shipping & returns
Made to order and delivered in 5–8 business days (2–4 to print, 3–4 in transit). US shipping only for now. Because each print is made for your order, all sales are final — but if it arrives damaged or defective, send us a photo within 14 days and we’ll replace it free. Full policy.
Why is it this affordable?
A thin, flat margin on every piece — just enough to keep the store running. Most of what you pay is the print itself. We only sell sizes that reproduce at full quality, and we don’t mark up the large sizes the way most shops do.
About this work
This is one of four large canvases devoted to the life of Saint John the Baptist that Bartolomé Esteban Murillo painted for the convent of San Leandro in his native Seville, Spain. Inscriptions from the gospels of John and Luke float in the sky, accompanied by the eagle and winged bull that, respectively, symbolize these evangelists. John the Baptist’s gesture toward Jesus alludes to the Baptist’s role in preparing the way for Christ. When he painted this series, Murillo was transitioning away from the hard edges and dramatic shading inspired by Francisco de Zurbarán toward softer, more vaporous effects.
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Original size
- 270.2 × 184.5 cm (106 3/8 × 72 5/8 in.)
Museum record · 4 owners · 2 exhibitions
Provenance
- Painted for the refectory of the Augustinian convent of San Leandro, Seville, together with three other paintings of the life of St. John the Baptist and a one of Saint Augustine washing Christ’s feet; sold by the convent to Antonio Bravo, Seville, 23 June 1812; his brother, Aniceto Bravo, sold together with an unknown Murillo and three other paintings to Luis Bouisson for M. Dauzat, probably on behalf of Baron Taylor for the collection of King Louis-Philippe of France, by September 1837.
- Louis-Philippe, Paris and London, by 1838 (d. 1850); his heirs, sold Christie’s, London, 6-21 May 1853, for £660.
- Thomas Townend (d. 1865) of Manchester and later Brighton, presumably by descent to his daughter Elizabeth Shepherd Townend Hall (d. Feb. 1883), Syndale, Kent by 1865 until 1883; offered for sale as from the estate of Thomas Townend, Brighton, Christie’s, London, 14 July 1883, bought in at 110 guineas; by descent to Blanche Mary Townend Hall Bullen (d. 1886); on her death to her husband Major John Bullen Symes Bullen, whom she had married on 26 June 1884; by descent to Lt.-Colonel John Fitzherbert Symes Bullen of Catherston-Leweston, Dorset.
- Appleby Brothers, London, by June 1954; sold by Appleby Brothers to Agnew’s, London, 19 July 1954; sold to Art Institute of Chicago, 1960.
Exhibitions
- Madrid, Museo del Prado, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682), 8 October - 12 December 1982; traveled to London, Royal Academy of Arts, 15 January - 27 March 1983.
- Forth Worth, Kimbell Art Museum, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682): Paintings from American Collections, 10 March – 16 June 2002; traveled to Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 14 July – 6 October 2002.
