Novohispanic School. Mexico. 18th century.

Novohispanic School. Mexico. 18th century. "Allegory of Africa and South America" Pair of oil paintings on canvas. Relined. 136,5 x 88,5 cm. each. Profusion and meticulous detail, excellence in drawing, joyful colors, and great elegance overflow in these two allegories of two of the four known continents between the 16th and 17th centuries. Africa is depicted by an anonymous Mexican palette, painting her as a Renaissance Sibyl: dominating the scene over a black slave offering her the finest jewels as if she were a queen, beside a lion symbolizing her "strength," and with a basket "abundant" with wheat and food (an allegory of Fortune), representing wealth. America, with ships in the background "discovering" new enclaves, is portrayed as a Princess with a cloak made of the rarest and richest tropical bird feathers from the Amazon paradise, with cacao at her feet, offered to Europe as pure "gold." Jewels and brooches adorn their headdresses and garments, breastplates, almost appearing embroidered to perfection, belts laden with precious stones, and fabrics never seen before. Notably, the characterization of the garments, with curiously Latin American geometric decorations, is observed in the female representation of Africa. This pair of two beautiful women, richly dressed and adorned, full of luxurious details, reflects the projection of two known continents and possibly formed part of a grand design for a majestic decoration, fit for kings and prominent people.