Cuzco School 19th Century Oil - Ángel Arcabucero

Description

An 'Ángel Arcabucero' is an angel depicted with an arquebus – an early muzzle-loaded firearm – and dressed in richly decorated clothing inspired by the South American nobility of the era. The style was especially prevalent in the Cusco School, a Roman Catholic artistic tradition based in Cuzco, Peru during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries. This work was acquired as part of a pair; the companion piece is also listed (SV108). The painting is beautifully presented in an ornate gilt frame. Unsigned. On canvas on stretchers.

Condition

The condition is typical for a picture of this age, including some discolouration, surface dirt, and craquelure. The artwork has undergone some restoration, including relining and areas of overpainting. Light wear to the frame, as well as some restoration to the ornamentation on the upper edge.

Size

49 x 39cm (19.3" x 15.4")
Framed Size: 74 x 65cm (29.1" x 25.6")

Collection Information

The Cuzco School of Art, or Escuela Cuzqueña, emerged in colonial Peru during the 16th and 17th centuries as a distinctive artistic tradition blending European and Indigenous influences. Centred in the city of Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, the style was established by Spanish colonisers and Catholic missionaries, spreading European painting techniques to Indigenous and mestizo artists. While the art often depicted religious themes in line with Catholic teachings, it also featured local elements, such as native flora, fauna, and Andean symbolism. The style was not limited to Cuzco and spread to other locations in the Andes, as well as modern day Ecuador and Bolivia. While European artists initially taught in Cusco, most works were later created by anonymous Indigenous and mestizo artists who adapted the style to reflect their cultural identity.

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