Curated by Suzanne Stratton-Pruitt and Verónica Muñoz-Nájar, this exhibition presents sixteen works from the collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma. Together, they display a panorama of artistic creativity from present-day Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Cuba, dating from 1600 to the late eighteenth century. The selection includes oil paintings on canvas and delicately rendered small works in oil on copper. These paintings reveal the dynamic character of viceregal art—a unique combination of styles that were part of a global circulation of artworks originating in Europe that transformed and were reinterpreted in the Americas. Most of the works on view communicate the devotional nature of images promoted by the Catholic Church, embodying innovative and localized religious iconographies from the diverse sacred landscapes of Latin America.
The intricate details of the paintings reveal the distinct priorities of artists to create complex allegories, unique styles, and subject matter that embody the cultural identity of each region’s aesthetic traditions. These artworks once adorned the walls of churches, convents, and private homes across Spanish South America, inviting contemplation and prayer. The portraits featured in this exhibition provide a glimpse into the pictorial languages of identity and were commissioned to represent the family lineage and status of both peninsular Spaniards and Creoles, those born of Spanish families in the Americas.