Gifted 18 December 2008 by Frederick and Jan Mayer of Denver, CO to the Denver Art Museum.
The painting "Christ of Ixmiquilpan" by artist José de Ibarra, one of the most representative mexican artists of the first half of the 18th century, easily recognized by his search of strong contrasts, and narratives through his artistic practice. In this specific artwork, a sculpture of Christ on the cross originated from Spain is depicted, with the aim of being displayed at a mission church of a small Otomi village near Ixmiquilpan, Mexico, however, it became credited with many miracles and its recognition spread.
In the following sculpture painting, Christ is depicted wearing a white fabric adorned with yellowish- gold details on the lower part of his body, this element may be the representation of his purity and kindness. His expression is serene and tired, looking down to his body and the stains of blood that can be found on his chest, as a consequence of the crown of thorns in his head. In the lower side of the painting, four metal flower ornaments can be seen, two on each side of the figure in different sizes and an inscription following the provenance of the painting can be found under them. Historically, the popularity of the "statues" paintings had been growing exponentially, and this painting by De Ibarra is one of the most influential in Spain and its colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries.
This artwork depicts a miracle working cornstalk paste sculpture venerated in Santa Teresa's Carmelite convent. The painting portrays Christ wearing an extravagant golde and white cloth emphasising his divine majesty rather than earthly suffering. This interpretation reflects colonial Mexican syncretism, blending indigenous crafting materials with European sacred iconography. The work celebrates the image's miraculous self renovation. By placing the sculpture within its altar context, Paez honors its fame as a miracle worker while reinforcing Saint Teresa's mystical connection to the divine through Christ's presence.
