Saint Raphael

In an era when faith was generally embraced and played a fundamental role in people’s lives, paintings of archangels—namely Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael—were a highly-desired devotional commodity for any prosperous home; this painting was probably commissioned for such use. Throughout the 16th to 18th century, a vibrant cult of angels existed in Spain and likewise, throughout its colonial territories. Saints and archangels especially, were intermediaries with special powers, and the faithful relied on their intercession for prayers to be heard and acted upon accordingly.
In the Viceroyalty of Peru, images of angels along with images of saints were used to indoctrinate the Andean native populations and so, their promulgation spread during the early centuries of Spanish rule. By the end of the 17th century, images of archangels were among the most popular religious images to be commissioned by the clergy and private individuals alike, and numerous artists took up commissions for churches, monasteries, and convents.
As intermediaries between God and humanity, depictions of angels provided a link between this life and the next, offering the faithful assurance that their prayers were being heard, and that their good deeds and devotion to God did not go unseen. The present painting provides a striking vision of the Archangel Raphael. Larger than life, he stands before the viewer on a rocky, tree-lined landscape, the backdrop filled with billowing clouds. Known as guardian of journeys, and healer of God’s people, Raphael is often pictured holding the staff of a traveler and a fish, as is the case in this work. Here, the anonymous Andean artist has illustrated this powerful figure with great delicacy. The details of the lace in his vestments and the multi-colored plumes of the figure’s impressive wings are laboriously rendered. Gabriel’s grace is subtle endowing him with heavenly countenance.