El Arte maestra

The book re-discovers the first theoretical-practical treatise on painting known to date from the viceregal period while offering a world-wide panorama of the situation of the painters and their profession in the 18th century New Spain. The author analyzes in depth the didactic colonial document clarifying the controversy about its authorship responsibility, studying the antecedents of that type of documents in Europe, and stating its importance in the cultural development of the colony. An essential reference for the study of art during 18th century New Spain.