Gallery 101, American Art, first floor (Kathy and Ted Fernberger Gallery)
Main Building
Gallery 101, American Art, first floor (Kathy and Ted Fernberger Gallery)
Main Building
This remarkable enconchado (shell inlay) painting comes from an artistic tradition that flourished in Mexico from 1650 to 1750. Inspired by Asian trade goods, painters seamlessly incorporated pieces of mother-of-pearl into their compositions, often extending the technique onto the frame. The reflective qualities of mother-of-pearl, especially when lit by candlelight, gave these works unparalleled luminosity.
San Diego de Alcalá (c. 1400–1463) was a Spanish lay brother of the Franciscan order and is depicted here within his monastery’s walled garden. Images such as this one, rare and jewel-like, represent a synthesis of the arts and cultures of Europe, Mexico, and Asia.
Gallery 101, American Art, first floor (Kathy and Ted Fernberger Gallery)
Title: | San Diego de Alcalá (Saint Didacus of Alcalá) |
Date: | Late 17th century |
Artist: | Artist/maker unknown, Mexican |
Medium: | Oil and mother-of-pearl inlay, with tempera accents, on panel |
Dimensions: | 18 1/4 x 15 1/4 inches (46.4 x 38.7 cm) Framed (shadowbox): 27 5/8 × 24 3/8 × 3 1/8 inches (70.2 × 61.9 × 7.9 cm) |
Classification: | Paintings |
Credit Line: | Purchased with the Edith H. Bell Fund, 2015 |
Accession Number: | 2015-166-1 |
Geography: | Made in Mexico, North and Central America |
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Gallery 101, American Art, first floor (Kathy and Ted Fernberger Gallery)
Main Building