Novo-Hispanic school, XVIII century. Lot n° 5

Novo-Hispanic school, XVIII century. "Virgin of Guadalupe". Oil on copper. Measures: 25,5 x 20 cm. The Virgin of Guadalupe is the most important and most worshiped Virgin in Mexico and other Latin American countries. Since the viceregal period, a complex iconography has developed around her cult, and a great artistic production that is characterized by the conjunction of local art with the European artistic tradition brought from Spain. The origin of the Virgin of Guadalupe is from Extremadura, but the Mexican version has its own origins. An ancient legend narrates that, in 1531, she appeared to a recently baptized Indian named Juan Diego. He asked him to ask the bishop to build a chapel in his honor, leaving his image imprinted on the Indian's tunic. This event became known as the Miracle of the Roses, and was recorded in the "Nican Mopohua", a text presumably written by the Indian Antonio Valeriano. The novo-Hispanic image of the Virgin of Guadalupe always appears surrounded by solar rays, an iconographic feature that comes from the apocalyptic and sibylline Virgins, both celestial apparitions. Likewise, its iconography was completed by partially assimilating the immaculist iconography, whose symbolism was established in Spain during the 16th century.