A belief in guardian angels became increasingly popular in the 1700s in Europe and Latin America. Paintings of angels were commissioned for confraternities dedicated to guardian angels or painted for the art market, where they were bought to decorate the private homes and chapels of important families. The pale blue mountains and lush landscape seen in this work are typical of Cuzco painting.

The elaborate robes of the guardian angel contrast sharply with the simple white garment of the child, whose hands are clasped in prayer. One of the angel’s hands rests gently on the child’s head, while the other holds aloft a heart. In addition to recalling the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—a favorite symbol of the Jesuits, who established a presence throughout South America—here the heart indicates that the angel follows God’s will in guiding its charge on the path to heaven, just as Raphael guarded Tobit on his travels in the biblical story.