The eighteenth century painter Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz was born in 1713 in San Miguel de Allende. He was a member of the painting academy, acquiring him social status. He, along with his contemporary Miguel Cabrera, are credited with creating the iconic elements of casta* painting, His ideas and work endured and influenced many other artists throughout the eighteenth century. His positioning of figures was designed to represent male family dominance. Social status due to racial mixing (casta) was represented in the hair style, clothing and background of his scenes. He also attempted to show through body language the emotions and attitudes supposedly resultant of racial mixing. Casta genre scenes continued to be painted throughout the eighteenth century as a statement of the Spanish elite on the racial intermarriage of Hispanic America.
He also painted luxurious still life with fruit and flowers, designed to educate people in Spain on the beauty of the New World. His paintings show fine detail. clear color use and contrast indicative of Flemish and Dutch influences. Morlete's work is displayed in Mexico City at Museo Nacional de Arte, and in Los Angeles at LA County Museum of Art.
The painting I have chosen for today is titled The Heart of Jesus.
*casta refers to racial hierarchy classification...used primarily to socially rank those of mixed racial marriage
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