Wilgefortis (Unencumbered Virgin)

This is a drawing depicting the Virgin crucified on a cross made of logs. She is clothed and crowned with lights and is in a landscape.

The Church of San Miguel (formerly San Justo) kept the image until the church passed into the hands of Opus Dei. It seems to be kept in an annex.

The drawing was done in preparation for the print in the Biblioteca Nacional (National Library of Spain). The cartouche reads: ‘V.R.D.L.M.V.Z. Wilgefortis, Patron Saint of the Bishopric of Sigüenza, venerated in the Parish of San Justo y Pastor in Madrid. At the expense of the Congregation of natives of the said bishopric. Luis Salvador Carmona invented, sculpted and outlined it. Mal Salvador Carmona engraved it. 1756’.

The Biblioteca Nacional keeps another drawing that is also attributed to Manuel Salvador Carmona and that depicts her with slight variations in the background. The engraving and the drawing in the Biblioteca Nacional are facing the same side, whilst this one in the Prado is inverted. This feature leads to the belief that this may be attributed to the engraver.

Pérez Sánchez, Alfonso E., Museo del Prado, Catálogo de Dibujos, III. Dibujos Españoles. Siglo XVIII. C-Z, Madrid, 1977, p.104