Attributed to José Campeche (San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1751 - 1809)

Attributed to José Campeche (San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1751 - 1809) "The Risen Christ with the Church Fathers" Oil on canvas. 98,5 x 77 cm. Magnificent canvas of extreme quality that shows the triumph of Jesus ascending to heaven in a strictly theological framework: that of the four Holy Fathers of the Church who contemplate the scene of which they wrote so much, and who elaborated what is known as "Patristic", which is the Christian thought of the first centuries. To the left of Christ, we find St. Ambrose of Milan and St. Gregory of Milan in front; and to his right, St. Augustine of Hippo and, behind him, St. Jerome of Stridon. A low phylactery reads "IN NOMINE EIUS GENTES SPERABUNT" ("In His name, the nations will wait"), a clear allusion to the central motif of the canvas: returning to life after death. Campeche was one of the most recognised Puerto-Rican artists. The only disciple of Luis Paret y Alcázar (1746-1799), who arrived at the island after being exiled by King Charles III, between 1775 and 1778. The Puerto Rico Art Museum has some of his works of art in their collection. His biographical index card there explains: "He mainly developed religious themes and portraits in his painting. His work is considered to be rococo because of its interest in detail and ornamentation. Bluish greys and pinks dominate his palette, which he assimilated from Paret. In 2006 the Ponce Museum of Art organised an exhibition which travelled to the prestigious Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts and which included paintings by Campeche, Francisco Oller and Miguel Pou. Campeche has great mastery in portraits and miniatures, characteristics which lead him to be one of the most exalted and outstanding Hispanic-American painters of the late 18th century." Frequent in the style developed by our painter, elongated figures and cherubic angels with round faces can be perceived. Such is the case with the little angel holding the papal tiara in the painting, which, when compared to the Infant Saint Jon signed by Campeche and recently sold at Suite Subastas, it is almost undeniable that they are executed by the same hand. Similarly comparable to our painting are the Saint Joseph with the Child and the Saint John the Baptistat the Museum of America in Madrid; both present great similarities in style and colour palette