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| Giuseppe Bonito The Immaculate Conception before 1789 oil on canvas private collection |
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| Sebastiano Luciani Birth of the Virgin before 1547 drawing Musée du Louvre |
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| Nicodemo Ferrucci Birth of the Virgin ca. 1565 oil on canvas Chiesa di San Bartolomeo a Cutigliano |
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| Benedetto Caliari (younger brother of Paolo Veronese) Birth of the Virgin before 1598 drawing (study for painting) Musée du Louvre |
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| Gianfrancesco Modigliani Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple ca. 1590-1600 oil on canvas Musei San Domenico, Chiesa di San Giacomo Apostolo, Forlì |
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| Ercole dell'Abate Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple ca. 1602-1608 oil on canvas Galleria Estense, Modena |
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| Raphael Marriage of the Virgin 1504 oil on panel Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan |
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| Luca Giordano Marriage of the Virgin ca. 1688 oil on canvas Musée du Louvre |
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| Jean-Baptiste-Henri Deshays Marriage of the Virgin ca. 1763 drawing Musée du Louvre |
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| Arcangelo Salimbeni The Annunciation 1574 oil on canvas Museo San Pietro, Colle di Val d'Elsa |
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| Scipione Pulzone The Annunciation 1587 oil on canvas Museo di Capodimonte, Naples |
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| Pietro Antonio de Pietri The Annunciation ca. 1695 drawing Musée du Louvre |
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| Palma il Giovane The Annunciation before 1628 drawing Musée du Louvre |
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| Charles Mellin The Annunciation before 1649 drawing Musée du Louvre |
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| Charles Mellin The Annunciation before 1649 drawing Musée du Louvre |
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| Bernardino di Mariotto The Annunciation 1514 oil on panel Pinacoteca Tacchi Venturi, San Severino Marche |
On Virtue
O thou bright jewel in my aim I strive
To comprehend thee. Thine own words declare
Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach.
I cease to wonder, and no more attempt
Thine height t'explore, or fathom thy profound.
But, O my soul, sink not into despair,
Virtue is near thee, and with gentle hand
Would now embrace thee, hovers o'er thine head.
Fain would the heaven-born soul with her converse,
Then see, then court her for her promised bliss.
Auspicious queen, thine heavenly pinions spread,
And lead celestial Chastity along;
Lo! now her sacred retinue descends,
Arrayed in glory from the orbs above.
Attend me, Virtue, thro' my youthful years!
O leave me not to the false joys of time!
But guide my steps to endless life and bliss.
Greatness, or Goodness, say what I shall call thee,
To give an higher appellation still,
Teach me a better strain, a nobler lay,
O Thou, enthroned with Cherubs in the realms of day!
– Phillis Wheatley (1773)