Colonial Latin American Art

Art from colonial Latin America is a reflection of the encounters between Indigenous and European (predominantly Spanish and Portuguese) cultures. Although the Catholic Church directed the creation of silver liturgical objects and oil paintings of religious figures, Spain's extensive trade routes also brought influences from across Europe, East Asia, and Africa to the Americas. Indigenous artists trained in European formats preserved many traditional techniques even as they created new objects. Furniture, ceramics, paintings, silver, and textiles in this collection demonstrate the fusion of these styles and the material and artistic wealth of this region.