Details:
This work belongs to the genre of "statue painting," that is, painted simulacra of sacred images. As a "true likeness" of a cult image, it was believed to possess the miraculous powers of the original, a sculpture of Christ the Nazarene venerated in the Cuzco church of San Francisco. The effectiveness of this type of painting depended on its veracity, a demand that led to the depiction not only of sculptures, but the altars and shrines where they were venerated. The sacred image of the Nazarene is displayed beneath a baldachin at the top of a stepped altar that is profusely decorated with additional sculptures, silver ornaments, and ephemera like candles, flowers, and feathers.
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This image is in the public domain.
