Image courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Chest

Primary Unknown Artist

NationalityPa, Brazilian, South America

Place MadeParaty, Brazil, South America

Dateearly 18th Century

MediumJacaranda and vinhático wood, metal

DimensionsAdditional Dimension: 28 1/4 x 28 1/2 x 58 in. (71.8 x 72.4 x 147.3 cm)

Credit LineBlanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin, Purchase, 2018.386

Keywords

Rights Statement

NO COPYRIGHT - PUBLIC DOMAIN

Collection AreaLatin American Art

Object number2018.386

On View

Not on view

Label Text

Web Comments

Wood altarpieces were carved, gilded, and polychromed as part of the decoration of church interiors. Several artists were involved in such complex projects. In Brazil, a master carpenter would sign the contract with the expectation that he would subcontract other artists to help him complete the work. Many altarpieces included cherubs like this one, representing heavenly spirits that Catholics believe lived to serve God. Frequently, altarpieces fell out of fashion and were disassembled to modernize devotional spaces. Most likely, this cherub became a stand-alone sculpture only after its home altarpiece was dismantled in such a process, thus leaving us without information of its original context.