Andrés de la Concha facts for kids
Andrés de Concha was a talented Spanish painter. Many people think he was one of the best artists in the Viceroyalty of New Spain, which was a large area in the Americas controlled by Spain. Andrés de Concha was born in Seville, Spain. He traveled to the New World in 1568. He painted from about 1575 to 1612. You can still see his amazing artwork in many churches and cathedrals in Mexico, like the famous Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral.
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Amazing Artworks and Altarpieces
Andrés de Concha was well-known for creating beautiful retablos. A retablo is a large, decorated screen or frame that stands behind the altar in a church. It often has paintings, sculptures, and carvings.
In 1587, Andrés de Concha made a deal with the town of Tamazulapan. He agreed to build and decorate a main retablo for their new church. This was a very big project, and he was paid a lot of money for it – 2000 pesos! He also created retablos for other important churches in Oaxaca, like those in Yanhuitlan, Coixtlahuaca, and Teposcolula.
The Tamazulapan Retablo
Not much of the original retablo from the 1500s is left today. Over time, like at Yanhuitlan and Coixtlahuaca, the first retablo was made bigger and changed. At Tamazulapan, it was updated in a fancy baroque style. This new style included detailed spiral columns and decorative shell shapes. Many new paintings and sculptures were added too.
This amazing, gold-covered retablo is very tall. It has four main levels and seven vertical sections. It looks like a huge, dynamic screen. This beautiful piece of art has been carefully fixed up and put back together. It now stands proudly at the front of the church once again.
The Paintings in the Retablo
Some artworks were added later or moved around in the retablo. This makes it a bit hard to know exactly which paintings were original or who painted them. However, experts believe that four of the ten original paintings that Andrés de Concha was hired to create are still in the retablo today. There might also be one or two old statues of the Apostles.
What the Paintings Show
The four large paintings believed to be by Andrés de Concha are found on the outer sides of the retablo. They show important stories:
- The Adoration of the Magi: This painting shows the three wise men visiting baby Jesus.
- The Adoration of the Shepherds: This painting shows shepherds visiting baby Jesus. It was common to see these two themes together in art in the Americas.
- The Annunciation: This painting shows the angel Gabriel telling Mary she will have a baby.
- The Presentation at the Temple, or Circumcision: This painting shows baby Jesus being presented at the temple.
This last painting is similar to other works by Andrés de Concha, like those he did at Yanhuitlan. It also shares some similarities in how it's put together and the colors used in nearby Coixtlahuaca. His painting style is sometimes described as Italian Mannerism with a soft Spanish touch.
See also
In Spanish: Andrés de Concha para niños
