Peruvian school of the 18th century. "Purà sima with Saints and donor nuns". Oil on copper.

Peruvian school of the 18th century.
"Purà sima with Saints and donor nuns".
Oil on copper.
Measurements: 11 x 8 cm; 18 x 15 cm (frame).
This copper can be defined as a very interesting piece because of the subject, the finish, the aesthetics and the details that take place in its reduced dimensions. The author conceives the space through a simple composition, with all the protagonists in the foreground, located in an undefined space. The scene is dominated by Mary in her invocation of the Immaculate Conception, who emerges from a golden break of glory. She wears a starry mantle with filigree embroidery around the edges. The author has dispensed with the litanies, an iconographic austerity that gives her figure greater relevance. Around the figure are various saints (Saint Francis and Saint Ildefonso), saints (Saint Rosalia and Saint Rosalia de Lima) and donor nuns. As for the style of the painting, we can appreciate some archaic features for its time, such as the hieratic and frontal nature of the figure typical of Peruvian art, as well as the European Baroque influence.
It is worth mentioning that, during Spanish colonial rule, a mainly religious style of painting was developed, aimed at Christianising the indigenous peoples. Local painters were modelled on Spanish works, which they followed literally in terms of type and iconography. The most frequent models were harquebusier angels and triangular virgins; however, in the early years of the 19th century, at the time of independence and the political opening up of some of the colonies, several artists began to represent a new model of painting with its own identity.