Defense of Doctoral Thesis at the Javeriana University by Don Antonio Moreno y Escandón

Did you know that during the colonial period, portraits of graduates were commissioned after their thesis defense? Join us and discover the details of this artwork.

By Colonial Museum

Painting attributed to Joaquín Gutiérrez

Defense of Doctoral Thesis at the Xaverian University by Antonio Moreno y Escandón. (1752) by Joaquín GutiérrezColonial Museum

When the first universities were founded in Europe during the 12th century, the idea of ​​depicting thesis defenses of those who studied there emerged. An iconographic formula was developed to commemorate and recognize the merits of the graduates.

This portrait was painted when Francisco Antonio Moreno y Escandón earned his degree in Theology, Canon Law, and Civil Law from the Javeriana University in 1754. Following his dissertation defense, the graduate commissioned this work from the painter Joaquín Gutiérrez.

Defense of Doctoral Thesis at the Xaverian University by Antonio Moreno y Escandón. (1752) by Joaquín GutiérrezColonial Museum

In it, Moreno y Escandón is depicted wearing a black toga and a red stole, a color that indicates that he belonged to Javeriana University. 

In front of the graduate and at the center of the artwork, we see a cartouche that briefly describes his thesis. 

Defense of Doctoral Thesis at the Xaverian University by Antonio Moreno y Escandón. (1752) by Joaquín GutiérrezColonial Museum

In these types of images, the devotions of the student, whether a saint or doctor of the Church, are related. Here we see Saint Teresa of Ávila in the upper part of the painting. 

The 16th century Spanish mystic, theologian, and commentator on moral texts, is considered here a model for Moreno’s defense, illuminating him in her theological dissertations. For this reason, she is depicted with a pen in hand, in front of an open book. 

Defense of Doctoral Thesis at the Xaverian University by Antonio Moreno y Escandón. (1752) by Joaquín GutiérrezColonial Museum

A flame sprouts from Teresa’s chest, referencing one of the saint ecstasies, during which an angel descended from heaven and pierced her heart with an arrow aflame with divine fire.

Alongside earning his degree, Moreno y Escandón held important positions in the Royal Court of Santafé including notary, lawyer, and prosecutor. 

Defense of Doctoral Thesis at the Xaverian University by Antonio Moreno y Escandón. (1752) by Joaquín GutiérrezColonial Museum

He also served as prosecutor of the Court of Lima, and regent of the Court of Santiago de Chile, where he died at the end of the 18th century. 

Today, Moreno y Escandón is remembered for implementing the Pragmatic Sanction of 1767 in New Granada, which established the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spanish territories. Following this, an educational reform based on scientific knowledge rather than theology was promoted.


Defense of Doctoral Thesis at the Javeriana University by Don Antonio Moreno y Escandón 

Painting attributed to Joaquín Gutiérrez  

Oil on canvas 

82 x 70 cm 

1759 

Credits: Story

Créditos 

MUSEOS COLONIAL Y SANTA CLARA 

 

Dirección / Museum Director 

María Constanza Toquica Clavijo 

 

Curaduría / Curation 

Anamaría Torres Rodríguez 

María Isabel Téllez Colmenares 

 

Administración de colecciones / Collection Management 

Paula Ximena Guzmán López 

  

Editorial / Editorial 

Tanit Barragán Montilla 

 

Divulgación y prensa / Communications 

Jhonatan Chinchilla Pérez 

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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