The Virgin of Carmen and the Souls of Purgatory with St. Joseph and the Prophet Elijah
ca. 1720
Medium
Oil and gold on copper; Frame: ebony, tortoise shell, and silver
Dimensions
Image: 13 in. × 9 5/8 in. (33 × 24.5 cm) Framed: 17 15/16 × 14 15/16 in. (45.5 × 38 cm)
Classification
Painting
Culture
Mexican
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Nancy Dunn Revocable Trust Gift, 2017
Accession Number
2017.234
Tags
About this artwork
This artwork titled "The Virgin of Carmen and the Souls of Purgatory with St. Joseph and the Prophet Elijah" by Juan Francisco de Aguilera dates to ca. 1720. Executed in oil and gold on copper; frame: ebony, tortoise shell, and silver, this work represents Mexican artistic traditions. The piece demonstrates the technical skill and artistic vision characteristic of its period. The work's presence in a major museum collection attests to its significance in the broader narrative of art history. As ...
Art Historical Context
In the early 18th century, during Mexico's colonial era under Spanish rule, artist Juan Francisco de Aguil crafted this exquisite devotional painting, *The Virgin of Carmen the Souls of Purgatory St. Joseph and the Prophet Elijah* (ca. 1720). The composition centers on the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a figure associated with the Carmelite order salvation from Purgatory. She is depicted interceding for tormented souls, accompanied by St. Joseph and the prophet Elijah—key figures in Carmelite spirituality—emphasizing themes of redemption, protection, and divine mercy that resonated ...