Cuzco School Painting, Angel With Arquebus, 18th Century

About the Item

This is an exquisite Cuzco School painting of an "Arcángel Arcabucero", or Angel with Arquebus, from Peru, most likely 18th Century but possibly later. Oil on linen. Newly mounted on archival board and framed in a lovely gilt frame. The Cuzco school was a Roman Catholic artistic tradition based in Cusco, Peru during the Colonial period, from the 16th to the 18th centuries. It incorporated traditional artistic techniques with a blend of Christian and indigenous iconography. Warrior angels (Ángel arcabucero ) became a popular motif in paintings of the Cuzco school. This painting exemplifies many characteristics typical of the style: beautiful richness of colour, extensive use of gold leaf, glorious costumes inspired by European nobles and aristocrats, and local flora and fauna. One scholar, Ramón Mujica Pinilla, noted a link between Arcángel Arcabuceros and certain winged warriors from the pre-historic pantheon. Like most Cuzco school paintings, the work is unsigned. In good condition for its age: craquelure throughout, some tiny losses to the lower left hand quadrant and one line of losses along the left hand side of the figure, possibly due to a folding of the canvas at some point. This could easily be restored and does not detract from the overall beauty of the piece. We believe this painting to be 18th century, however dating is not guaranteed. The piece may be 19th century.

Dimensions:
Height: 38.5 in (97.79 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Linen,Paint
Place of Origin:
Peru
Period:
18th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Unknown
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Toronto, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU8854248161532