The Spanish military conquest in the Americas started in the early years of the sixteenth century. Soon after, a new society arose as a result of people from different social and ethnic backgrounds living together. The objects that populated their daily lives were equally diverse, showing the mingling of indigenous and European visual traditions, as well as African and Asian influences. Luxury items depicted in portraits helped reveal the sitter’s social standing. Ordinary things included in religious scenes transformed them into domestic settings, reinforcing the role of the sacred in everyday life.
La conquista militar en el continente americano llevada a cabo por los españoles se inició a principios del siglo XVI. Poco tiempo después, una nueva sociedad comenzó a formarse como consecuencia de la convivencia entre personas de distintos orígenes sociales y étnicos. Los objetos utilizados en la vida cotidiana eran igualmente diversos y mostraban la fusión de las tradiciones visuales indígenas y europeas, así como influencias africanas y asiáticas. Los objetos de lujo exhibidos en retratos servían para revelar la posición social de la persona retratada. A su vez, las cosas ordinarias incluidas en escenas religiosas las transformaron en ambientes domésticos, reforzando así el rol de lo sagrado en la vida diaria.
Unknown, “Death of Saint Joseph,” 18th century, oil on canvas, 162 x 120 cm (63 3/4 x 47 1/4 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Unknown, “Nativity with Musical Angels,” 18th century, oil on canvas, 53 x 41 cm (21 x 16 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Unknown, “Nuestra Señora de Cocharcas [Our Lady of Cocharcas], circa 1751, oil on canvas, 127 x 104 cm (50 x 41 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Unknown, “Portrait of Carlos II as a Child,” after 1667, oil on canvas, 166 x 109 cm (65 1/2 x 42 3/4 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Pedro José Diaz, “Retrato de Doña María Rosade Rivera, Condesa de la Vega del Ren,” circa 1785, oil on canvas, 200 x 133 cm (78 3/4 x 52 3/8 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Melchor Pérez Holguin, “San Lucas pintando a la Virgen [Saint Luke Painting the Virgin], early 18th century, oil on canvas, 95 x 70 cm (37 1/2 x 27 3/4 i.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Unknown, “The Christ Child Painting the Four Last Things,” late 17th century – early 18th century, oil on canvas, 86 x 112 cm (34 x 44 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Diego Quispe Tito (1611-1681), “The House of Nazareth,” 17th century, oil on copper, 55 x 47 x 4 cm (21 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 1 1/2 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Unknown artist from Venezuela, “Mesa [Table],” 18th century, gessoed, painted, and gilded cedar, 82 x 63 cm (32 5/16 x 24 13/16 in.), Gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, 2016
Unknown, “La Dolorosa,” 18th century, oil on canvas mounted on wood, 35 x 28 cm (13 9/16 x 11 in.), Gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, 2016
Unknown, “Tres esculturas del Niño Jesús con donantes indígenas,” 1835, oil on wood panel, 24 x 17 cm (9 1/2 x 6 7/8 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
Dionisio José Montero (1718-1806, Venezuela), “Nuestra Señora del Carmen y las Animas del Purgatorio,” 18th century, oil on canvas, 83 x 62 cm (32 1/2 x 24 3/16 in.), Gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros in memory of Venerable Servant of God Mother Carmen
Unknown, “María Inmaculada, Reyna del Cielo [Mary Immaculate, Queen of Heaven],” late 18th century, oil on linen, 110 77 cm (43 5/16 x 30 5/16 in.), Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma
