Novohispanic School. Mexico. 17th century. Circle of Cristóbal de Villalpando (Mexico City?, 1649 - Mexico, 1714)

Novohispanic School. Mexico. 17th century. Circle of Cristóbal de Villalpando (Mexico City?, 1649 - Mexico, 1714) Oil on canvas.In its original cedar wood chassis. 158,5 x 223,5 cm. Impressive oil painting that narrates the scene described in John 18:2 and Luke 22:39, the scene of Gethsemane, that garden on the Mount of Olives where Jesus often withdrew to pray. In Aramaic 'Gethsemane' means 'olive press' or 'oil press', with that specific nuance that when the olives are first pressed in the press, the oil that comes out is red, like blood. According to Luke's account, 'Jesus went away from them about a stone's throw, and kneeling down he prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me, but let not my will be done, except yours be done. .... and full of anguish, he was sweating like thick drops of blood...'. On the right we see Peter (of the three who were present; James and John the other two), who fell asleep while Jesus was praying. And in the background the city of Jerusalem, located in the place that is central to the life of Jesus, his death, crucifixion and resurrection. Cristóbal de Villalpando is, together with Juan Correa, the most important artist in New Spain in the last quarter of the 17th century. He undertook two of the most important artistic works: the large allegorical canvases of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City and the Cathedral of Puebla, where he even painted the dome. His style is very personal; he combines an acid and iridescent coloring with almost metallic tones with very nervous folds in clothes and flesh tones with bluish reflections, all in a mannerist spirit that may remind us of Northern European artists. His compositions are inspired by very eclectic sources in accordance with his iconographic intentionality, prints by Rubens and peninsular baroque models such as Carreño de Miranda and Francisco Rizzi, from whom he even versioned a famous Immaculate Conception and from whom he also takes the juicy and vibrant coloring. It presents some patches on the back due to small restorations, but it is in its original canvas