The Immaculate Conception is the belief that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. Debated by medieval theologians, it was not defined as a dogma until 1854, by Pius IX with the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus.
The Immaculate Conception became a popular subject in literature, but its abstract nature meant it was late in appearing as a subject in works of art. The iconography of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception shows Mary standing, with arms outstretched...
