Meeting of Saints Dominic Francis and Angel in Rome

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The Meeting of Saint Dominic, Saint Francis, and Saint Angel in Rome — Workshop of Basilio Santa Cruz Pumacallao, Cusco, c. 1668–1684

This canvas is part of a series of large-format paintings dedicated to the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, created in Cusco between approximately 1668 and 1684 within the circle of Basilio Santa Cruz Pumacallao’s workshop. Associated with 17th-century Viceregal painting from Cusco, the series is currently housed in the Museum of Colonial Art of San Francisco in Santiago, Chile. Although the series has traditionally been linked to Basilio Santa Cruz, other painters from his circle—including Juan Zapaca Inca and various collaborators—also participated in its execution. Continue reading after advertisement

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The scene depicts an ancient tradition regarding the meeting of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Dominic de Guzmán, and Saint Angel of Jerusalem in Rome. According to the devotional account, the three religious figures met at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, where they mutually acknowledged the mission God had entrusted to each of them. Saint Angel reportedly foretold Saint Dominic’s role as a preacher and defender of the faith, while prophesying that Saint Francis would receive the five wounds of Christ upon his body. The painting thus brings together the founders of the Franciscan and Dominican orders alongside the Carmelite Saint Angel, underscoring the spiritual unity of their respective missions. Continue reading after advertisement

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The composition is particularly interesting for the way in which European tradition was reinterpreted within the artistic context of Viceregal Cusco. The three saints appear in the foreground, while an idealized vision of Rome—populated by buildings, religious scenes, and celestial figures—unfolds in the background. The result does not aim to be a historical reconstruction of the city, but rather a symbolic representation of Rome as the setting for the Church's mission and renewal. The monumental scale and Baroque style transform a legendary episode into an image of great devotional power, characteristic of the major narrative cycles produced for Franciscan convents in the Andean world. 

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This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.