The Dispute over the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin

Nicolas Dorigny (1658-1746) arrived in Rome in 1687 to eventually sojourn there for more than two decades. Of the plentiful artists active in the Eternal City at that time, he was the most familiar with Carlo Maratta whose paintings were moreover among the frequent subjects of Dorigny’s prints. In 1711, Dorigny left for London and lived there until 1724. His most renowned works are engravings based on Raphael’s tapestry designs commissioned by Pope Leo X for the Sistine Chapel. Dorigny was elevated to the noble ranks by the English King, George I, for his work completed in 1719. He returned to Paris in 1725 and became a member of the Academy in the same year.