Colombian or Ecuadorian school; 18th century.
"The Ascension of the Lord".
Oil on canvas. Re-coloured.
It presents restorations on the pictorial surface and faults in the frame.
It has an inscription in the lower left area.
Measurements: 74 x 55 cm; 87 x 68 cm (frame).
This work presents the iconographic theme of the Ascension of Christ, which is found in the New Testament. An act which, according to the narrative, took place with the Apostles. This model, in which Christ ascends alone towards the heavens, is already found in examples from the 11th century, and was the most common in Western art, being eclipsed to a certain extent by that of the Ascension of the Virgin during the 17th and 18th centuries.
It is worth mentioning that during Spanish colonial rule, a mainly religious painting was developed, aimed at Christianising the indigenous peoples. Local painters were modelled on Spanish works, which they followed literally in terms of type and iconography. The most frequent models were harquebusier angels and triangular virgins; however, it was not until the early 19th century, at the time of independence and the political opening up of some of the colonies, that several artists began to represent a new model of painting with its own identity.