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Crown of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, known as the Crown of the Andes

Ca. 1660 (diadem) and ca. 1770 (arches)
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 626
This crown was made to adorn a sacred image of the Virgin Mary venerated in the cathedral of Popayán (Colombia). A symbol of the Virgin’s divine queenship, the crown is encircled by golden vinework set with emerald clusters in the shape of flowers, a reference to her purity. The diadem is topped by imperial arches and a cross-bearing orb that symbolizes Christ’s dominion over the world.


Although the practice was controversial, it was common to bestow lavish gifts, including jewels and sumptuous garments, on sculptures of the Virgin Mary. To gain salvation, the faithful sought her intercession and worked to honor her and increase the splendor of her worship. At the same time, the crown represents one of the most distinctive artistic achievements of a region whose wealth derived from the mining of gold and emeralds.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Crown of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, known as the Crown of the Andes
  • Date: Ca. 1660 (diadem) and ca. 1770 (arches)
  • Geography: Made in Colombia
  • Culture: Colombian; Popayán
  • Medium: Gold, repoussé and chased; emeralds
  • Dimensions: 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm)
    Body diameter: 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, Acquisitions Fund and Mary Trumbull Adams Fund, 2015
  • Object Number: 2015.437
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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