The gold monstrance of the church of San Ignacio de Bogotá, with almost 1,490 Colombian emeralds, is one of the most remarkable examples of baroque artistry in devotional objects (see above). With its abundance of fine-color emeralds, the artifact was dubbed La Lechuga (Spanish for “lettuce”). It is now on a brief European tour until January 3, 2018.
In 1700, the first year of Philip V’s reign, Spanish goldsmith José Galaz went to the territory of Nueva Granada to create a unique monstrance for the Jesuit church of San Ignacio de Bogotá. From 1700 to 1707, he used solid gold, enamel, and fine gem materials to create what became one of the most magnificent baroque monstrances ever produced. The approximately 80-cm-tall artifact is embellished with diamond, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, citrine, and baroque white natural pearl, along with the fine-quality Colombian emeralds. Further research might shed light on the provenance of these emeralds, which are possibly from the Muzo, Chivor, and Coscuez mines. Most have exquisite color and clarity, and the profusion of these gemstones in the circular aura makes it distinctively green. An interesting feature is the use of pearls in the gold lunette, the container where the host for the Eucharist is kept. Normally these lunettes have a crescent shape and are set with diamonds or no gems at all.
This monstrance was purchased by the Banco de la República de Colombia in 1985 and is now part of its Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia collection. As one of Colombia’s most important treasures, it almost never leaves the country. An exception was made in 2015 when it went to the Museo del Prado in Madrid, and in 2017 it has been on public display at the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon (June 21–September 13) followed by an exhibition at the Louvre in Paris (until January 3, 2018). This tour offers a unique opportunity for visitors outside Colombia to experience this outstanding Iberian baroque monstrance and its important gemological content.
The gold monstrance of the church of San Ignacio de Bogotá, with almost 1,490 Colombian emeralds, is one of the most remarkable examples of baroque artistry in devotional objects (see above). With its abundance of fine-color emeralds, the artifact was dubbed La Lechuga (Spanish for “lettuce”). It is now on a brief European tour until January 3, 2018.
In 1700, the first year of Philip V’s reign, Spanish goldsmith José Galaz went to the territory of Nueva Granada to create a unique monstrance for the Jesuit church of San Ignacio de Bogotá. From 1700 to 1707, he used solid gold, enamel, and fine gem materials to create what became one of the most magnificent baroque monstrances ever produced. The approximately 80-cm-tall artifact is embellished with diamond, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, citrine, and baroque white natural pearl, along with the fine-quality Colombian emeralds. Further research might shed light on the provenance of these emeralds, which are possibly from the Muzo, Chivor, and Coscuez mines. Most have exquisite color and clarity, and the profusion of these gemstones in the circular aura makes it distinctively green. An interesting feature is the use of pearls in the gold lunette, the container where the host for the Eucharist is kept. Normally these lunettes have a crescent shape and are set with diamonds or no gems at all.
This monstrance was purchased by the Banco de la República de Colombia in 1985 and is now part of its Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia collection. As one of Colombia’s most important treasures, it almost never leaves the country. An exception was made in 2015 when it went to the Museo del Prado in Madrid, and in 2017 it has been on public display at the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon (June 21–September 13) followed by an exhibition at the Louvre in Paris (until January 3, 2018). This tour offers a unique opportunity for visitors outside Colombia to experience this outstanding Iberian baroque monstrance and its important gemological content.
