Spanish school of the XVIII century."Presentation of the Virgin in the temple".Oil on canvas.Measurements: 74 x 60 cm., 85 x 74 cm. (frame).In this canvas the author represents a scene from the life of the Virgin Mary, her presentation in the Temple as a child. The narrative is set in an open setting, dominated by a staircase that plays an important role in the story, and which serves to differentiate the two planes of the composition, and at the same time to order the figures. These, starting from the foreground, establish a diagonal reading rhythm, of great dynamism, markedly baroque. The line starts from the head of St. Joachim in the lower left corner, rises diagonally and guides our gaze to the Virgin, vividly illuminated, passing through St. Anne to finally reach the figure of Zachary, located at the top of the staircase.According to the promise made by her parents, Mary was taken to the Temple at the age of three, accompanied by a large number of Hebrew girls carrying lighted torches and amidst the singing of angels. To go up to the Temple there were fifteen steps, which Mary ran up alone, despite her young age, throwing herself into the arms of Zechariah, who was waiting for her in the courtyard in the company of other Elders. Zechariah blessed her, with words that alluded to her future divine maternity and, something unheard of, made the child enter the sancta sanctorum, where only the High Priest could enter once a year, on the day of the feast of the Atonement. He seated the child on the third step of the altar and God then descended his graces upon her, whereupon Mary arose and began to dance for joy.