Virgin of Guadalupe

In this painting, the Virgin of Guadalupe is surrounded by four medallions that narrate the miraculous events that, as it is told, an indigenous man named Juan Diego witnessed on the hill of Tepeyac between December 9th and December 12th, 1531. 

In the center, the crowned Virgin is depicted, supported on a crescent moon, and dressed in a pink tunic and a blue starry mantle. The body of Mary, held by an angel, emits golden radiance. 

In the scene of the upper left corner, the moment of the first apparition is narrated, which occurred as Juan Diego was on his way to the Church of Santiago el Mayor in Tlatelolco to attend mass. 

On his way, the indigenous man heard a woman calling him; it was then that, among the clouds, he discovered the Virgin, who communicated to him that she wished for a temple to be built in her honor in that place. For this purpose, she instructed him to convey her message to the bishop, Friar Juan de Zumárraga. 

In the image located in the upper right area, the second apparition is depicted. Juan Diego, accompanied by two angels, tells the Virgin about the bishop’s incredulity. The bishop did not believe his words and demanded a clear sign of the miracle. 

Continuing with the narrative, the third medallion shows how, following the Virgin’s instructions, Juan Diego cut wild roses in the middle of winter, a season when these flowers do not bloom. He then placed them in his cloak to present them to the skeptical bishop. 

In the fourth scene, we see the moment when the indigenous man visits the prelate and unfolds his cloak, letting the roses fall and revealing the miraculous image of the Virgin that was imprinted on it. Faced with this sight, Zumárraga fell to his knees amazed. 

From the colonial period to the present day, the Virgin of Guadalupe has been a religious image of utmost importance in Mexico and the rest of Latin America. 

This devotion transcended the religious sphere. For example, it became the standard for the struggle for Mexican Independence, and over the years, it has evolved into a cultural icon symbolizing Latin American identity.