Novo-Hispanic school; second half of the XVII century.

Novo-Hispanic school; second half of the XVII century.
"Our Lady of Altagracia surrounded by saints".
Oil on canvas.
Preserves original canvas.
Presents faults and losses.
Measurements: 26.5 x 19 cm.
The legend that is arranged in the inferior zone of this painting, reveals that the main protagonist of the scene is Our Lady of Altagracia, protector of the Dominican Republic. The legend comes from Extremadura, Spain, where the Virgin was presented to a shepherdess. Next to them a set of cartouches, with their corresponding legends, give way to several portraits of martyr saints. This type of compositions where an image of greater size and thematic relevance is placed in the center, accompanied by small miniatures became very popular in Latin America. To a great extent caused by the colonialist interest of a rapid evangelization.
It is worth mentioning that, during the Spanish colonial domination, a mainly religious painting was developed, aimed at Christianizing the indigenous peoples. The local painters were modeled on Spanish works, which they followed literally in terms of types and iconography. The most frequent models were the harquebusier angels and the triangular virgins, however, in the early years of the 19th century, already in times of independence and political opening of some of the colonies, several artists began to represent a new model of painting with its own identity.