Novo-Hispanic viceroyalty school; second half of the XVIII century.

Viceroyalty Novohispana School; second half of the XVIII century.
"Saint Joseph with the Child".
Oil on copper.
Presents restorations.
Measurements: 32 x 27 cm; 55 x 50 cm (frame).
Image of devotional character in which St. Joseph and the Child is represented on a dark and neutral background, indeterminate. St. Joseph acts as the throne of the Child, to whom he dedicates a tender look, which alludes to his filial paternal relationship. The Child, who is lying in his father's arms, directs his gaze towards the viewer, thus establishing a communication between the two. The work has no other element that distracts the viewer, except for the white lilies that are an iconographic symbol of Joseph. Until the Counter-Reformation, it was common for the figure of St. Joseph to remain in the background, since he was not given any theological importance. However, after Trent, his protagonist role as Jesus' protector during his childhood, as a guide during his youth, was recovered, and as such he is represented here. In contrast to the tenderness, defenselessness and candor of the infant figure, St. Joseph is presented as a monumental character, typically baroque, an impression that is reinforced by the pyramidal composition of the image. Through this form of representation, the author visually enhances the decisive role as protector of the putative father of Jesus.
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 aesthetic 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.