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Lot description
"Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 57 x 45 cm (unframed), 65 x 55 cm (framed). Signed in the lower right corner "Mich.l Cabrera pinxit". This beautiful painting depicts Saint Joseph with the Child Jesus, a theme of profound emotional and spiritual charge that had a special resonance in 18th-century Mexican viceregal art. Saint Joseph appears here as a protective and loving father, gently holding the Child while both share a sprig of lilies, a traditional symbol of his purity, humility, and fidelity. Joseph's gentle gaze and the closeness between their bodies convey an intimate, tender, and human relationship, which connects directly with the devotional sensibility of the period. The composition is practically identical to an oil on copper work signed by Miguel Cabrera, auctioned at Christie's (New York, lot 335, January 2015). In this version on canvas—also signed by the artist—all the elements that characterize Cabrera's style are preserved: the subtle handling of chiaroscuro, the finesse in the depiction of faces, the elegance of the folds of the cloth, and, above all, the ability to instill emotion without grandiloquence. During the 18th century, the figure of Saint Joseph acquired special prominence in New Spain, driven by sermons, brotherhoods, and strong popular devotion. He was seen not only as the husband of the Virgin, but also as an exemplary model of a father, guardian of the Redeemer, and patron of the Christian home. Miguel Cabrera, a great interpreter of New Spain spirituality, was able to capture this dimension of the saint with special sensitivity, bringing him closer to the believer with a warm, human, and deeply devotional representation. "