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Novo-Hispanic School. 18th Century. Attributable to José de Páez or Miguel de Cabrera.
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Description
Novo-Hispanic School. 18th Century. Attributable to José de Páez or Miguel de Cabrera.
"The Holy Trinity"
Oil on copper
Presented in its marvellous period frame: which has a wooden core covered in tortoiseshell with inlaid silver.
16 × 23.5 cm
Dimensions with frame: 33.5 × 33 cm
This spectacular painting is enhanced by its exquisite handcrafted frame, making it a true collector´s piece. The subject of the Holy Trinity is further enriched by this magnificent setting: a wooden structure sheathed in tortoiseshell, adorned with carved silver motifs—foliage, volutes, shells, petals, buds, leaves, and stems—forming an abundant baroque garden. This ornate decoration visually reinforces the theological significance of the painted truth and the complexity of the dogma.
The painting is anonymous, yet it evokes the features and gentle expressions seen in the art of Miguel Cabrera or the tenderness of José de Páez—as if inspired by them—while unmistakably showing the signs of having been painted by a Mexican artist. The composition aligns with many others from the period, displaying subtle variations in movement and colour that reveal the artist’s personal taste.
In 1715, Pope Benedict XIV prohibited depictions of the Holy Trinity that denied the immaterial nature of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, this artist, like others of the time, resolved the challenge of representing this theological complexity by using identical facial features for each figure, while distinguishing them through colour and symbolic attributes.
At the centre sits God the Father, clad in a white-grey tunic—symbol of revelation—with a radiant sun on His chest representing divine light, and a golden sceptre resting upon the orb on His knee, a sign of sovereign power. To His left is Christ, robed in blue—denoting His divine nature—with stigmata on His hands and feet, and the Mystic Lamb on His chest, alluding to His salvific sacrifice. To the right, the Holy Spirit is depicted in red and pink garments, evoking Pentecost and the living flame of love, with a dove upon His chest.
The three divine Persons are set upon a sea of clouds and cherubic supports, radiating divine light that signals their shared divinity.
The luminosity of the colours, the movement of the drapery, and the sweetness of the expressions are particularly striking in this copper painting.
The frame itself is worthy of special note. A wooden base veneered in tortoiseshell, with delicately engraved and carved silver floral inlays reminiscent of Indo-Portuguese flowers and Mughal ivory carvings from India and Gujarat. This horizontally oriented frame is crowned with an upper crest and three rosettes—evoking the Trinity—which give the piece a unique flourish, enhancing its elegance, dynamism, and significance.
An exceptional piece that reflects the artistic richness and craftsmanship of the colonial period. Its intricate workmanship and combination of precious materials such as silver and tortoiseshell highlight its aesthetic and historical value, making it a highly desirable object for collectors of colonial art and culturally significant antiques. Without a doubt, this is a piece of great historical and artistic importance.
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Novo-Hispanic School. 18th Century. Attributable to José de Páez or Miguel de Cabrera.
"The Holy Trinity"
Oil on copper
Presented in its marvellous period frame: which has a wooden core covered in tortoiseshell with inlaid silver.
16 × 23.5 cm
Dimensions with frame: 33.5 × 33 cm
This spectacular painting is enhanced by its exquisite handcrafted frame, making it a true collector´s piece. The subject of the Holy Trinity is further enriched by this magnificent setting: a wooden structure sheathed in tortoiseshell, adorned with carved silver motifs—foliage, volutes, shells, petals, buds, leaves, and stems—forming an abundant baroque garden. This ornate decoration visually reinforces the theological significance of the painted truth and the complexity of the dogma.
The painting is anonymous, yet it evokes the features and gentle expressions seen in the art of Miguel Cabrera or the tenderness of José de Páez—as if inspired by them—while unmistakably showing the signs of having been painted by a Mexican artist. The composition aligns with many others from the period, displaying subtle variations in movement and colour that reveal the artist’s personal taste.
In 1715, Pope Benedict XIV prohibited depictions of the Holy Trinity that denied the immaterial nature of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, this artist, like others of the time, resolved the challenge of representing this theological complexity by using identical facial features for each figure, while distinguishing them through colour and symbolic attributes.
At the centre sits God the Father, clad in a white-grey tunic—symbol of revelation—with a radiant sun on His chest representing divine light, and a golden sceptre resting upon the orb on His knee, a sign of sovereign power. To His left is Christ, robed in blue—denoting His divine nature—with stigmata on His hands and feet, and the Mystic Lamb on His chest, alluding to His salvific sacrifice. To the right, the Holy Spirit is depicted in red and pink garments, evoking Pentecost and the living flame of love, with a dove upon His chest.
The three divine Persons are set upon a sea of clouds and cherubic supports, radiating divine light that signals their shared divinity.
The luminosity of the colours, the movement of the drapery, and the sweetness of the expressions are particularly striking in this copper painting.
The frame itself is worthy of special note. A wooden base veneered in tortoiseshell, with delicately engraved and carved silver floral inlays reminiscent of Indo-Portuguese flowers and Mughal ivory carvings from India and Gujarat. This horizontally oriented frame is crowned with an upper crest and three rosettes—evoking the Trinity—which give the piece a unique flourish, enhancing its elegance, dynamism, and significance.
An exceptional piece that reflects the artistic richness and craftsmanship of the colonial period. Its intricate workmanship and combination of precious materials such as silver and tortoiseshell highlight its aesthetic and historical value, making it a highly desirable object for collectors of colonial art and culturally significant antiques. Without a doubt, this is a piece of great historical and artistic importance.
Millésime 25 · 20th anniversary of La Suite Subastas
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 60
Venue Address
Conde de Salvatierra, 8
Barcelona
08006
Spain
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
The purchase price includes the delivery of the lots in the venue of the auction. Transporting to other destinations is at the own risk of the client. The customer must contact "LST", to give the corresponding instructions for such transporting. "LST" is not responsible for the packaging or any accident incurred during transportation.
Important Information
It is important please, that you read our conditions of sale before the auction. If you need us to send them to you by mail, just ask for them.
We would like to remind you that in compliance with Spanish historical heritage laws, lots over 100 years old will need a license, which we will take care of processing for you. This process can take up to a month, as the Ministry of Culture holds only one meeting per month.
The Spanish administration does not charge anything for clients within the European Community, but for non-European Community buyers, the Spanish administration does apply fees. Please contact us for more details on the cost of these fees.
Terms & Conditions
CONDITIONS OF THE AUCTION:
I. REGISTRATION. To bid in the room customers must register at the beginning, filling out a form and picking a number that will identify them during the auction. Customers may be required to register in bank references or other guarantee system and if they do not prove the solvency "LST" will not accept bids and award the auction.
II. WRITTEN BIDS. "LST" will accept written bids, which will be formalized in the form provided by the room until the day before the auction. In such auctions, the room will bid in name of the client until the maximum stated in the offer and always at the lowest possible price. If there are two or more bids for the same amount, the one placed first will have the priority. Written bids received in advance, will have priority on the day of the auction.
III. TELEPHONE BIDS. "LST" will allow telephone bids, if interested people contact "LST" days before the auction providing personal data, ID card and the phone number which will be used by the staff of "LST" to call at the time of the auction. The buyer, within all the legal rights is making an offer for the asking price, when applies for telephone bid. "LST" will not take responsibility for any technical defects beyond its control, which may prevent to contact successfully the bidder during the auction.
IV. AUCTIONEER. The auction will be conducted by an auctioneer, director of the auction will be judge and arbitrator of it with full authority in its development, will award the lots to the highest bidder and is able to settle any controversy concerning lots sale, reject bids, divide lots or group them and remover objects from the room. Will be able to, if it is deemed suitable, not accept bids on the auction. His decision will be unappealable.
V. SALE OF LOTS. The lots are awarded to the highest bidder. Once the auctioneer blows the hammer, the buyer becomes responsible of the lot purchased, exempting "LST" of liability to for any damage and / or accidents that may occur. No refunds of lots.
VI. STARTING PRICE. The amount shown in the catalogue as the starting price for each lot will be, as a rule, the minimum selling price, except for exceptional cases where a reservation may be agreed upon with the seller or it set discretionary by the room.
VII. SCALE OF BIDS. The bids are set according to the following scale:
From 50.-€ to 200.-€…………………………………………..at 10.-€
From 200.-€ to 500.-€…………………………………… …25 in 25.-€
From 500.-€ to 1.000.-€………………………………..…..….50 in 50.-€
From 1.000.-€ to 2.000.-€………………………………..…100 in 100.-€
From 2.000.-€ to 5.000.-€……………………………….….250 in 250.-€
From 5.000.-€ to 10.000.-€…………………………………500 in 500.-€
From 10.000.-€ to 20.000.-€……………………………1.000 in 1.000.-€
From 20.000.-€ to 50.000.-€……………………………2.500 in 2.500.-€
From 50.000.-€ to 100.000.-€…………………………..5.000 in 5.000.-€
From 100.000.-€ to 100.000.-€………………………10.000 in 10.000.-€
From 200.000.-€ to 200.000.-€………………………25.000 in 25.000.-€
From 500.000.-€ to 500.000.-€………………………50.000 in 50.000.-€
VIII. RIGHT OF ADMISION. "LST" reserves the right to admission to the auction room and to reject, at its judgment, any purchase order, from clients whose solvency is not duly proved as well as not to sale auctions.
IX. SALE PRICES. The successful bidder of one or more lots must pay "LST" the final sale price achieves at auction, plus the 24,5 % plus 21% VAT on the commission, at total 29,64 % on Hammer Price.
X. CATALOG DATA. The catalogue data are obtained in order to careful research and advice, however, any responsibility is afforded about its accuracy. The lots will be auctioned in the state in which they are, not accepting any claims in restorations, breakage, damage, imperfections and, even description or numbering mistakes in the catalogue, in case of it, being the burden of the buyers to make sure before the auction that the description matches with their personal opinion about respective lot. The exhibition of the lots is intended to allow a perfect review and study of them.
XI. PAYMENT AND REMOVAL OF LOTS. Payment and removal of the lots will be held no later than five days following the auction. After this period expire without having the buyer removed the lot or lots purchases, it will accrue an expense of custody of 6 euros per day on each lot.
15 days after the auction without having the buyer paid and removes the sold lots, "LST" will inform the seller and there will begin judicial proceeding in order to obtain payment. The delay in payment by the purchaser of his/her sold lots will carry an interest increase at a rate of 1,5% per month.
XII. DELIVERY OF LOTS. The purchase price includes the delivery of the lots in the venue of the auction. Transporting to other destinations is at the own risk of the client. The customer must contact "LST", to give the corresponding instructions for such transporting. "LST" is not responsible for the packaging or any accident incurred during transportation.
XIII. RIGHT OF FIRT REFUSAL AND REPURCHASE. "LST" in order to article 38 of "Ley 16/1985 de 25 Junio del Patrimonio Histórico Español" (BOE. 155 June 29, 1985), will notify in advance to the Ministry of Culture, the content of their catalogues. Concerning the lots subject to the legislation referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Administration may exercise the rights of first refusal and repurchase according to the law. "LST" will watch over the protection of Artistic, Historical and Bibliographical Heritage of Spain. For customers out of European Community, a tax for export is required by the Administration.
XIV. EXPORT LICENSE. In compliance with Spanish historical heritage laws, lots over 100 years old need a export license, which we will take care of processing for you. The Spanish administration does not charge anything for clients within the European Community, but for non-European Community buyers, the Spanish administration does apply fees. Please contact us for more details on the cost of these fees.
XV. VALUE ADDED TAX (I.V.A). This tax will be accrued on commissions of "LST" for buyers, using the rates prevailing on the date of the auction.
XVI. DATA PROTECTION. In order to the "Ley 15/1999 de 13 de Diciembre, de Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal", the client authorize "LST", the inclusion of their data in a customer file, and for the promotion by "LST" of the objects at all times the rights of access, rectification or deletion of personal data by sending the appropriate request to the following address: LA SUITE SUBASTAS, C/ Conde Salvatierra, 8, 08006. Barcelona.
XVII. EXPRESS LEGAL JURISDICTION. These Conditions are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the rules of Spanish law. The mere act of participating in the auction as seller, buyer or bidder, implies acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
Sales operations are understood to be held at the registered office of "LST", C/ Conde de Salvatierra, 8, 08006. Any dispute shall be taken to the competent courts of Barcelona, expressly waiving any other jurisdiction, in accordance with Article 55 of the "Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil".
