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San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with funds from Friends of Folk Art.

Cuadro de Almas

San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with funds from Friends of Folk Art.
San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with funds from Friends of Folk Art.
Contact San Antonio Museum of Art, Registrar Department for rights and reproduction of this image.

Cuadro de Almas

Artist:
Place made:Ecuador
Date: 20th century
Dimensions:
25 7/8 x 65 in. (65.7 x 165.1 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with funds from Friends of Folk Art
Object number: 93.36.a-b
Label Text
Known as a Cuadro de Almas, or painting of souls, this work is part of the tradition of huayru, a game played in rural Ecuador during a wake or vigil. These paintings depict the Last Judgment, Purgatory, and Hell, along with schematic drawings of skulls in front or in profile. The function of the Cuadros de Alma is to show the spirit and mourners the path they must take to achieve eternal rest, which will depend on their actions in life.

Este Cuadro de almas forma parte de la tradición del juego del huayru, que se juega en ciertas zonas rurales de Ecuador durante un velorio o una vigilia. Estos lienzos muestran escenas que representan los pecados capitales, imágenes infernales, del cielo y del purgatorio, junto con dibujos esquemáticos de cráneos de frente o de perfil. La función de los Cuadros de almas es mostrar al espíritu y a los dolientes el camino que deben tomar para alcanzar el descanso eterno, que dependerá de sus acciones en la vida.

(LA, 2020)
On view
In Collection(s)


The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.