Saint Joseph and the Christ Child

St. Joseph was an important symbolic figure for men just as Virgin Mary was an important symbolic figure for mothers and women. St. Joseph remains an important symbolic figure in Peru today. For men, St. Joseph was a figure that represented an example of a devoted father and husband. However, St. Joseph did not always symbolize this devotion. He started out as a comic relief. St. Joseph was often pictured as a sleepy old man in a corner at the Nativity. In European Catholicism, St. Joseph was considered a peripheral saint. His paternal representation gained popularity in the 16th and 17th century in Spanish and throughout the Spanish Empire. Within the Catholic Church, St. Joseph symbolized a Christian marriage. This was in effort to encourage marriage between the indigenous Elites and the Spanish. This bond would help the Spanish Crown solidify its power. 

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This depiction of St. Joseph comes from the Andean region of the Viceroyalty of Peru. St. Joseph his shown to be holding the hand of his foster son. Both figures have radiating, gold halos surrounding their heads. They are surround by landscape with regional flora and tropical birds. The use light blue tones and detailed landscaping is an element of Flemish art. Both figures are wearing thick robes with gold-leaf patterns. The Inka people of pre-conquest Peru valued textiles. This adoration continued after the Spanish colonization. Cumbi cloth is a high-quality fabric that was available to a colonial Peruvian. The red sandals worn by the Christ child is a similar style that was worn by the indigenous Inkan elite. The Christ Child is said to be a representation of the Sapa Inka and the Christian Savior. Sapa Inka is the supreme ruler of the Inka. Both representations are solar symbolisms. Sapa Inka is known as the son of the sun god while Christ was referred to as the "light of the world".  This artwork intended to portray that both the Inkan heritage and the Christian values  could coexist. This artwork demonstrates how Cusco artists would incorporate indigenous/Andean elemnets in European style artwork.