History and devotion in images of a celestial conversation (OCD, Batuecas Desert, 17th. century)

Abstract

The portrait of Blas de San Alberto and Antonio de Jesús is a devotional, didactic and memorial image that replaces the written history of the discalced order with the implicit narrative in the Celestial Conversation. The interpretation of this plastic representation is based on the cult images tradition and on relationships of inscriptions in the picture, forms and location of this visual work contextualized in chronicles, biographies, and instructions for prayer and education of the friars. This leads us to think that the canvas could have been designed to illustrate a room for prayer, study or collective meditation.

Keywords

• pintura, historia, devoción, iconología, carmelitas descalzos, desierto de batuecas.