Fruits of the Holy Cross of Miracles
Artist:
Nicolás Enríquez
(Mexican, active 1738 - ca. 1770)
Place made:Mexico
Period: Viceroyalty of New Spain
Date: ca. 1770
Medium: Oil on copper
Dimensions:
Framed: 29 1/2 × 23 1/2 in. (74.9 × 59.7 cm)
Copper plate: 20 × 14 in. (50.8 × 35.6 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, purchased with the Mary Kathryn Lynch Kurtz Fund for the Acquisition of Latin American Art
Object number: 2014.3
Signed: Signed: Enríquez fac
Published References
Marion Oettinger, San Antonio 1718: Art from Mexico (Trinity University Press and San Antonio Museum of Art, 2018), plate 80.
Label Text
Nicolás Enríquez (active 1722–1787) was one of the most important and gifted 18th century painters of New Spain. Enríquez was from Guadalajara and painted many commissions in that city as well as in other major centers of cultural life of the period.
This allegorical painting, glossed in Spanish and Latin, relates to the founding of the College of Santa Cruz for the Propagation of Faith in Querétaro, Mexico by Franciscans in the late 17th century. It is saturated with religious imagery of particular importance to members of the Franciscan Order as well as historical figures who were instrumental in founding the College. Although filled with inspirational scenes, the diminutive size of the painting suggests that it was made for private, possibly personal, devotion, rather than for display before large gathering of novitiates and other members of the Order. This work may be a miniature version of an earlier, much larger canvas or wall mural used to inspire younger missionaries. Today, a large 19th century mural version of this painting, with stylistic and content modifications, is painted on the wall in a chapel connected to the church of Santa Cruz. It is meant to be seen only by a small group of Franciscan friars who continue to reside in the old monastery.
(Marion Oettinger, Jr., 2016)
This allegorical painting, glossed in Spanish and Latin, relates to the founding of the College of Santa Cruz for the Propagation of Faith in Querétaro, Mexico by Franciscans in the late 17th century. It is saturated with religious imagery of particular importance to members of the Franciscan Order as well as historical figures who were instrumental in founding the College. Although filled with inspirational scenes, the diminutive size of the painting suggests that it was made for private, possibly personal, devotion, rather than for display before large gathering of novitiates and other members of the Order. This work may be a miniature version of an earlier, much larger canvas or wall mural used to inspire younger missionaries. Today, a large 19th century mural version of this painting, with stylistic and content modifications, is painted on the wall in a chapel connected to the church of Santa Cruz. It is meant to be seen only by a small group of Franciscan friars who continue to reside in the old monastery.
(Marion Oettinger, Jr., 2016)
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.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
