Artwork
Don Manuel Jose Rubio y Salinas, Archbishop of Mexico
Don Manuel Jose Rubio y Salinas, Archbishop of Mexico is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Miguel Cabrera. It dates from 1754 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Created in 1754, this oil portrait depicts Don Manuel José Rubio y Salinas, who served as Archbishop of Mexico.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1754, this oil portrait depicts Don Manuel José Rubio y Salinas, who served as Archbishop of Mexico. The work is attributed to Miguel Cabrera, a preeminent painter of mid‑18th‑century New Spain, and is presently part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown seated, dressed in a vivid red ecclesiastical mantle edged in white, with a gold‑cross pendant and a white ruff collar. A modest crucifix hangs behind him, while a heraldic shield rests on a nearby table, underscoring his high clerical rank and the authority associated with the archbishopric.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the portrait reflects the Rococo sensibility that had reached the viceroyalty, emphasizing delicate brushwork, refined detailing, and a polished surface. Cabrera’s handling of light renders the fabrics and metal ornaments with a subtle sheen, while the background remains subdued to keep focus on the figure.
History & Provenance
Commissioned during Cabrera’s mature period, the painting remained in ecclesiastical or private hands before entering the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s holdings of colonial Latin American art.
Context
At the time of its creation, New Spain’s artistic scene was dominated by late Baroque and emerging Rococo influences, with the Catholic Church as the principal patron. Cabrera, recognized as the leading artist of this era, produced numerous portraits of high clergy, integrating European stylistic trends with local artistic traditions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Miguel Mateo Maldonado y Cabrera (1695 – May 16, 1768) was a Mexican painter of the late Baroque in New Spain.
