Novo-Hispanic school; second half of the XVII century.

Novo-Hispanic school; second half of the seventeenth century.
"Virgen del Carmen helping the souls in purgatory".
Oil on canvas.
It has a frame of the seventeenth century.
Measurements: 50 x 43 cm; 64 x 55 cm (frame).
Devotional image in which the figure of the Virgin of Carmen is represented, recognizable by her usual scapular. The Virgin is portrayed approaching the souls in purgatory, accompanied by angels. According to tradition, the Virgin promised to liberate from Purgatory and take to heaven all the souls that have worn the scapular during their lifetime, a belief that has been supported by the Popes. The Marian devotion to the Virgin of Mount Carmel spread to many countries in Europe and America, among them Spain, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. Ours is one of the countries where this devotion is most deeply rooted. The fishermen named the Virgin of Carmel their faithful protector and, in addition, the Spanish Navy granted her the title of patron saint. For this reason, the Virgin of Carmel is also known as "Stella Maris" ("the star of the seas").
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 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.