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Pietà and Souls in Purgatory (Virgen de la Piedad y ánimas del purgatorio)

José de Páez Mexican

Not on view

In this unusual painting, four angels serve as messengers between purgatory and salvation, embodied by the Pietà. On Calvary (where Jesus was crucified), the Virgin holds the body of Christ on her lap, while beneath the mount, the souls in purgatory plead for deliverance. The canvas was commissioned by the powerful Pedro Romero de Terreros, first Count of Regla (1710–1781), for the chapel of the Monte de Piedad, a pawnshop that provided interest-free loans to the poor and also accepted donations to foster the cult of souls in purgatory.

The studied elegance of the work is representative of José de Páez, an extremely prolific artist who painted works for destinations within and beyond the viceroyalty.



En esta inusual representación de la Virgen de la Piedad y ánimas del purgatorio, los ángeles de la parte superior llevan almas representadas como un niño ante la Virgen, en tanto que los de la parte inferior eligen otras para socorrerlas. La estudiada elegancia de la obra es característica de José de Páez, un artista muy prolífico que exportó un número considerable de obras dentro y fuera del virreinato.

El comitente de este lienzo fue el poderoso Pedro Romero de Terreros, I conde de Regla (1710–1781), para la capilla del Monte de Piedad, una casa de empeño en la que se prestaba dinero sin intereses a los necesitados, que también aceptaba donaciones en favor del culto a las ánimas.

Pietà and Souls in Purgatory (Virgen de la Piedad y ánimas del purgatorio), José de Páez (Mexican, 1720–ca. 1790), Oil on canvas (Óleo sobre lienzo), Mexican

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© Museum Associates/LACMA/Fomento Cultural Banamex, A.C., by Rafael Doniz