Some of the most famous 18th-century colonial Mexican paintings are the stunning monjas coronadas (crowned nuns). This unique genre of Spanish colonial art captures a pivotal moment in a young woman’s life—the day she officially became a Catholic nun and took her religious vows in a convent.

This video explains the genre of crowned nun portraits. It discusses how a nun’s floral crown, elaborate veil, and symbolic candle and crucifix were all part of the visual tradition of nun profession portraits, a type of art form found in New Spain and other parts of the Spanish Americas.

This video is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about:

• Mexican art

• New Spain

• Colonial art

• Baroque art

• Women in History

• Spanish colonial art

• Portraiture

• Catholic Traditions

• Religious Art

• Art History

• Latin American Art

Main Object: Portrait of Mother Ana María of the Precious Blood of Christ, 1770 CE, oil on canvas, Mexico. Denver Art Museum.

Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank

CHAPTERS

0:00 What is a monja coronada in colonial Mexico?

0:27 How nuns were portrayed in crowned nun portraits

1:15 Flowers on the crowns

1:40 Convents and nuns and the symbolic brides of Christ

2:23 Portraits for a nun’s family