Painted representations of sculptures of the Virgin Mary were common in both Spain and the Americas. The sculptures were believed to hold miraculous powers to aid the devout, and they were dressed in gold and silver cloth to express their holiness. In the painted versions, artists were careful to render the fine textiles and objects used to embellish the sculptures, as verisimilitude was important to worshipers who knew them only from paintings.
As indicated by the inscription along the bottom edge, this is a painting of a famous sculpture of the Virgin Mary from the city of Málaga in Spain. Although the artist is unknown, the canvas was painted in the Viceroyalty of Peru in the late 1600s or early 1700s. The extraordinary use of gold and silver for the textiles and architectural elements is characteristic of artistic centers in the Andean highlands, such as Cuzco and Potosí. The landscape fragments at the bottom indicate that the original canvas was larger and included scenes depicting miracles performed by the Virgin of Málaga.
Jorge F. Rivas Pérez, Frederick and Jan Mayer Curator of Latin American Art
Quality
Denver Art Museum Custom Prints offers exclusive custom reproductions of artworks in the collections and exhibitions of the Denver Art Museum. Hand-made in the USA using gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.Selection
Many of the works offered through this store are exclusive and not available anywhere else. We are continually adding new artworks to our offering, so be sure to check back regularly as you build your own gallery. A variety of molding styles means our custom framed prints can match any type of decor.