Artworks
European, viceregal & Asian art
Altarpiece of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Unidentified Guatemalan artist, c. 1750–1780
Mirror plate, carved and gilded wood, and oil on metal sheet
60 × 46.5 × 8.5 cm
This miniature Guatemalan altarpiece brings the elaborate architecture of a church retablo into the setting of private devotion. Painted images, centred on the Virgin of Guadalupe, are integrated into carved...
This miniature Guatemalan altarpiece brings the elaborate architecture of a church retablo into the setting of private devotion. Painted images, centred on the Virgin of Guadalupe, are integrated into carved and gilded wood against reflective mirror grounds. Openwork foliage, complex pilasters and a rounded upper register create a lively Baroque structure. The ensemble combines painting and decorative arts, allowing several devotions to be contemplated within a single, carefully ordered object.