jan 1, 1750 - Portrait of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz by Miguel Cabrera

Description:

Painted in 1750 by notable New Spanish painter Miguel Cabrera, this portrait depicts the famous nun Sor Juana in her study. As part of the popular series of crowned nun portraits, Sor Juana’s is certainly unique as she was an important figure in Colonial Mexico. This painting, completed 55 years after her death, is an oil portrait of Sor Juana that places her within her religious and intellectual significance. After deciding not to marry, Sor Juana joined the Carmelite convent in 1667, but left a year later to join the Jeronymite order in 1669. There, she hosted intellectual gatherings, published works, and continued her studies in physics, astronomy, philosophy, and more. Sor Juana was attacked by the bishops of New Spain who directed harsh criticism to her for being an intellectual woman. At the end of her life, Sor Juana gave up her intellectual pursuits and cared for the infirm until falling ill herself and passing away at 46. Miguel Cabrera’s painting is significant as it seeks to place Sor Juana back into her passionate space while still following the artistic traditions of a crowned nun portrait. Here, her devotions to religion and intellectualism are recorded in her memorialization. She became associated with the Virgin of Guadalupe and Aztec goddesses.

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