Cuzco School; XVII century.

Cuzco School; XVII century.
"The Virgin of the light".
Oil on canvas. Relined from the XVIII century.
It presents faults and restorations.
It has a XIX century frame.
Measurements: 189 x 110 cm; 207 x 127 cm (frame).
In this representation of The Virgin of the Light, the painting from Cuzco of the XVII century displays all its capacity to fuse the European baroque dramatism with the Andean devotional sensibility. The scene is organized around the central figure of Mary, upright and majestic, wrapped in a richly ornamented mantle with meticulous gilding that evokes the brightness of the sumptuary textiles of the Viceroyalty. Her silhouette is silhouetted against a celestial atmosphere populated by angels and cherubs, in an ascending composition that leads the gaze from the earthly realm to divine glory.
The Virgin holds the Child, who carries in her hands the symbol of the orb and redemptive love, while two angels raise an imperial crown above her head, affirming her status as Queen of Heaven. Around her, winged heads and stars form a radiant halo that reinforces the luminous dimension of the scene. In the lower part, two human figures, rescued or assisted, introduce the narrative element: Mary not only reigns, but actively intervenes in the salvation of the faithful, acting as mediator and protector.
One of the most singular features of the Cuzco School is clearly manifested here: the ornamental treatment of the vestments, where the profusely applied gilding not only embellishes, but also spiritualizes the material. The perspective is subordinated to the symbolic hierarchy; the space does not seek naturalistic depth, but devotional intensity. The color, vibrant and contrasting, and the serene expression of the faces reveal an aesthetic that privileges the clarity of the message and the emotional force.
In the context of the Viceroyalty of Peru, these images fulfilled a catechetical and affective function, aimed at strengthening the faith in diverse communities. However, far from limiting themselves to reproducing European models, the Cuzco painters endowed their works with their own character, recognizable in the solemn frontality, the taste for decorative detail and the almost visionary atmosphere that envelops the scene.