The Virgin - Saints And Angels

South American Paintings 1600 - 1825 from the Thoma Collection

This exhibition of 55 richly detailed paintings filled with religious and sacred iconography is a rare opportunity to view paintings from the vast Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru, a territory that encompassed present-day Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and parts of Chile, Argentina, and Panama. The missionaries who came to the region after the conquistadors taught local artisans how to use European mediums and Christian symbols. Native artists quickly became proficient in decorating churches and public buildings. Easel paintings were also produced, often in large workshops with various artists contributing specialized skills to the finished work. Several of the paintings retain their original carved frames, which are part of this workshop tradition. The exhibition is divided into several sections: early European-influenced images; proselytizing images and images teaching Christian dogma; images of particular devotions such as the Virgin of Copacabana, Our Lady of Pomato, and Our Lady of Cayma; narrative works celebrating the Life of the Virgin Mary; and portraits.

The Virgin, Saints, and Angels: South American Paintings 1600 - 1825 from the Thoma Collection was organized by the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University, and has been made possible by generous support from the Clumeck Fund and from funds established by the late Drs. A. Jess and Ben Shenson.