Cuzco Oil Painting

An exceptional early Cuzco School painting, naive depiction of the Holy Family, presented in a contemporary wooden frame. The Cuzco or Cusco school was a Roman Catholic artistic tradition that began in the 1500's in Peru, following the Spanish conquest and subsequent attempts by the Spanish invaders and missionaries to implement the Catholic faith and associated customs upon the Peruvian people. The school was established in the ancient city of Cusco which had previously been the capital of the Incan empire. Bernardo Bitti arrived in Peru in 1583, and with his arrival the acceleration of Cuzqueno Art flourished. During his two stays in Cusco, Bitti was commissioned to make the main altarpiece of the church of his Order, replaced by another after the earthquake, and painted some masterpieces, such as The Coronation of the Virgin, currently in the museum of the church of La Merced, and the Virgen del pajarito, in the cathedral. Cuzco School paintings are marked by their baroque influenced imagery and the subjects of the paintings shown with light focused upon them. Cuzco art...

We present you with this oil-on-canvas painting from the 19th century representing Archangel Michael - the chief of the angels and archangels. The painting follows the style of the...

We present you with this oil-on-canvas painting from the 19th century representing Archangel Raphael who is said to guard pilgrims on their journeys and is often depicted holding a s...

We present you with this oil-on-canvas painting from the end of 18th century representing the Virgin Mary holding little baby Jesus in her arms. The painting follows the style of t...

A lovely antique oil on linen painting from Spanish Colonial period late 18th-early 19th century. In the style of Classic Cuzco School, the painting depic...

This is a very good Spanish Colonial, Cuzco School (Cuzqueno) painting of the Archangel Michael. The painting appears to have little or no restorations and, as such, is in remarkable condition. We have chosen to leave that painting as found as the patina highlights the depth and character of the painting. We have listed separately two complementary larger paintings of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Michael acquired from the same estate. The Cuzco school is a Peruvian Spanish Colonial religious artistic tradition in which Incan spirituality was incorporated into Catholic iconography. These Peruvian paintings incorporate artistic forms that distinguish Cuzqueno paintings from other Spanish Colonial artistic traditions. The Jesuit order, arriving in the mid-16th century, was the principal Catholic order whose mission it was to convert the Inca to Christianity and introduce Christian iconography and European type painting techniques to the Inca capital of Cuzco. Cuzco School paintings...