Peruvian school; 18th Century.

Peruvian school; 18th century.
"The Betrothal of the Virgin".
Alabaster carved and gilded.
Measurements: 32 x 27,5 cm.
The present work made in carved alabaster represents a classic theme in the history of art, which shows the wedding between Mary and Joseph. In this case the work is based on a traditional composition from the Renaissance, with a symmetrical structure with the priest and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove in the centre, while Mary and Joseph are on either side. The parents of Jesus are led by the priest to hold hands. Joseph carries, as is customary in this theme, the flowering rod that God used to mark him as Mary's husband, while the Virgin holds a wreath of flowers. The scene is completed by the presence of a group of figures in the manner of a procession flanking the bride and groom and divided by gender, with the women accompanying Mary and the men accompanying Joseph. The carving has a certain costumbrista influence that derives from the anecdotal postures of the figures in the foreground of the lower part, which are also a resource that enhances the three-dimensionality of the carving, thus providing greater depth.
The Peruvian Colonial School developed between the 16th and 18th centuries after the arrival of the Spaniards in the country and as a result of the influence of three major trends: Spanish, Italian and Flemish. The Catholic religion took on great importance as it played a decisive evangelising role, so that biblical themes, such as the one presented in this auction, proliferated following European techniques and models. It is worth mentioning that, during Spanish colonial rule, mainly religious painting was developed, aimed at Christianising the indigenous peoples. Local artists were modelled on Spanish works, which they followed literally in terms of type and iconography. The most frequent models were harquebusier angels and triangular virgins, but in the early years of the 19th century, at the time of independence and political openness in some of the colonies, several artists began to represent a new model of painting with its own identity.