Viceroyalty School; XVIII century.

Viceroyalty School; XVIII century.
"The Last Judgment".
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 74 x 81 cm.
The author of this work recreates the Final Judgment following the Renaissance iconography, with a composition ordered in two planes, the celestial and the earthly. Above appears, in the center, Christ as judge, raising his hand blessing as a sign of authority. He is accompanied, on both sides, by Saint Joseph, and the Virgin, intercessor for humanity in the Judgment. The upper plane is completed on the sides by different relevant characters of religious history such as the apostles and in the upper area a group of barely recognizable figures. In the lower plane, the great size of the figures stands out, in particular that of an archangel that carries the cross and is located in the center of the scene dominating the composition. It is probably the representation of Saint Gabriel, since he is the one who announces the moment of the Last Judgment. In the lower zone, a multitude of characters meet in an infernal scenario.
The painting of the viceregal school of the XVIII century is characterized by its deep devotional sense, its iconographic richness and a remarkable synthesis between the European artistic traditions and the local elements of America. In this period, marked by the consolidation of the late Baroque and the introduction of certain Rococo elements, religious painting continued to be the predominant genre, destined both for temples and domestic spaces, in compliance with the ideals of the Counter-Reformation. Viceroyal artists, many trained in workshops organized by religious orders or in incipient academies, developed their own visual language, combining influences of European masters such as Murillo, Zurbarán or Rubens, with a particular sensitivity for detail, color and emotion. The representation of saints, virgins, biblical scenes and allegories was done with a pedagogical and spiritual intention, while the use of oil on canvas, copper or wood demonstrated an increasingly sophisticated technical mastery. This school not only responded to the liturgical and doctrinal demands of the time, but also offered a way for the cultural expression of colonial societies, reflecting their complex mestizo identity and deep religiosity.