Nuestra Señora de Belén

José Campeche y Jordán, Nuestra Señora de Belén, late 18th century, oil on copper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.7
Copied José Campeche y Jordán, Nuestra Señora de Belén, late 18th century, oil on copper, 9 1⁄2 x 7 1⁄2 in. (24.2 x 19.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.7
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Nuestra Señora de Belén
Artist
Date
late 18th century
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
9 1⁄2 x 7 1⁄2 in. (24.2 x 19.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Teodoro Vidal Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on copper
Classifications
Highlights
Subjects
  • Religion — New Testament — Mary
  • Recreation — leisure — eating and drinking
  • Religion — New Testament — Christ
Object Number
1996.91.7
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1996.91.7

Artwork Description

The iconography of the Virgin nursing the infant Jesus identifies Mary with the Church. In the same manner that Mary cares for the Christ child, so the Church nurtures its children. Images of the Virgin nursing were popular in the High Middle Ages, particularly in Spain in Catalonia and Valencia. When José Campeche was active in Puerto Rico, Catalonians were bringing to the island artistic influences from the mother country. (Yvonne Lange, “Santos: The Household Wooden Saints of Puerto Rico,” PhD diss., 1975)