Important Christmas Fine Art Auction: Haute Epoque, Jewels and Colonial Treasures
Lot 377:
Oil on canvas, unreserved lot. Measurements: 75 x 55 cm. Framed measurements: 90 x 70 cm. Andrés de Barragán was a Mexican painter active during the 18th century for whom there is no monographic study yet; however, it is possible to find him referred to in the works of Manuel Toussaint and Abelardo Carrillo y Gariel dedicated to the study of painting in New Spain. Of this painter Toussaint mentions: “In the other churches of Tasco there are also some paintings: in the Santísima two paintings, regular, signed by Andrés de Barragán: they represent a Holy Pope and another Bishop, perhaps Saint Augustine.” Barragán’s production that exists to this day is extremely scarce. In 2020, a work of a very similar format signed by the painter, representing Saint Anastasius of Persia, was auctioned in Spain, a piece belonging to the collection of the Palace of the Marquis of Casa Torre in Igea in Navarra. Regarding the theme of the work, it is known that the cult of Saint Joseph has gone through a series of ups and downs that determined its diffusion and acceptance in the devotion of the Church. Despite being one of the main characters in the life of Christ, his connection with the Holy Family had to wait until the guidelines of the Counter-Reformation for him to be considered a substantial part of the “earthly trinity.” However, from the interest in vindicating his exemplary participation in the salvific plan, the Josephine apologists emerged, among saints and scholars who raised the Josephine graces in emulation of the Marian ones. References: Carrillo and Gariel, Abelardo. Autographs of colonial painters. National Autonomous University of Mexico, 1972, p.151 Toussaint, Manuel. Colonial Painting in Mexico. México, Imprenta Universitaria, 1965. p. 193 Merlo Solorio, Jorge Luis, “San José Transit: a divergent iconography”, in: Sztuka ameryki lacinskiej 2013, no. 3, pp. 89-106.
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