This painting depicts the Christ of Ixmiquilpan, a life-size sculpture made of cornstalk paste, in its altar. Christ is shown wearing an extravagant loincloth with gold embroidery and finely rendered pearls, with four vases of silver-laminated flowers at his feet. To make the effigy more lifelike, the artist rendered drops of blood trickling down Christ’s forehead, chest, and feet, and the three nails with which he was attached to the cross. The inscription states that the painting is a “portrait of the most beautiful image of the Holy Christ of Ixmiquilpan that is venerated at the old convent of Discalced Carmelite nuns in Mexico City.”
According to legend, the sculpture was originally displayed at the church of Mapethé, near the town of Ixmiquilpan, Mexico. By 1615, it had become severely damaged and was ordered to be buried with the next townsperson to die. Six years passed without any deaths. In 1621, after a storm blew off half the church’s roof, the figure floated away from the cross and showed signs of life (it perspired copiously, bled, twitched, and blinked), until it was miraculously restored to its original condition. Soon thereafter, the sculpture was transferred to the Carmelite convent of Santa Teresa in Mexico City. Its fame as a miracle worker grew, yet the convent allowed only a limited number of artists to make painted copies. The relatively small size of this canvas signed by José de Páez suggests that it was intended for private devotional use.
Ilona Katzew
2024
