Artwork
The Virgin of Guadalupe with the Four Apparitions
The Virgin of Guadalupe with the Four Apparitions is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Nicolás Enríquez. It dates from 1773 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Around her are four smaller scenes with the same figure in each, all framed like windows.
This painting shows a robed figure with dark skin standing on a cloud, holding a baby. Around her are four smaller scenes with the same figure in each, all framed like windows. The colors are bright, gold stars, green and red robes, and soft blues in the sky. Tiny people kneel below, looking up.
The artist signed it in 1773, noting it was made for devotion. The main figure’s face is calm, but the gold rays behind her glow like sunlight.
Look up chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama in paintings.
Technique & Style
Nicolás Enríquez executed The Virgin of Guadalupe with the Four Apparitions in 1773 using oil paint applied to a copper support. This choice of metal plate as a ground distinguishes the work from traditional canvas paintings, offering a rigid and smooth surface that influences the handling of the pigment. The resulting religious composition measures 56.5 cm in height and 41.9 cm in width.
The medium allows for fine detail in the depiction of the Virgin Mary and accompanying figures, characteristic of the artist's style during this period. The copper support contributes to the work's preservation and visual clarity, maintaining the integrity of the oil layers over time. Currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the piece stands as a significant example of 18th-century religious art utilizing this specific material combination.
History & Provenance
The Virgin of Guadalupe with the Four Apparitions was painted by Nicolás Enríquez in 1773. Executed in oil on copper and measuring 56.5 by 41.9 centimeters, the work is a religious painting currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. No specific commission details, earlier ownership, or accession number are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This painting, titled The Virgin of Guadalupe with the Four Apparitions, was created by Nicolás Enríquez in 1773. Executed on copper, the work is a devotional image centered on the figure of Mary. It is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a significant example of religious art from the period.
Subject & Meaning
The central image portrays the Virgin of Guadalupe as a robed figure with dark skin, standing on a cloud while cradling an infant. Surrounding this primary depiction are four smaller, window-like scenes, each illustrating a distinct apparition of the Virgin. Below, small figures kneel in reverence, gazing upwards. The artist's signature from 1773 indicates the painting's original purpose as an object of devotion.
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