18th century, Viceroyalty of New Spain(Mexico). Escudo de Monja. Oil on Copper, Tortoiseshell. 19 cm diameter

This escudo de monja or nun’s shield features a painting of the Coronation of the Virgin. A radiant Mary is seen pointing to her heart while receiving her crown from God the Father to the right and Jesus Christ to the left. Above is the white dove as the Holy Spirit completing the Holy Trinity amongst the clouds. The image is framed in 5 pieces of tortoiseshell secured with 25 copper studs and single disc of tortoiseshell for the back retaining two copper attachments for fastening to the scapular.

The Spanish Orden de la Inmaculada Concepción de María was founded in the 1484 by Portuguese Santa Beatriz da Silva(1424-1492) in Toledo under the Crown of Castille. This Catholic monastic order was approved by Pope Innocent VIII in 1489, describing the manner of dress, including habit and scapular upon which a medallion would be worn with an image of the Virgin. Following the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519-1521) by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish Crown began its Spiritual Conquest in Mexico. By 1524,  with the arrival of the Franciscan Twelve,  the newly-founded Viceroyalty of New Spain began the systematic evangelization of indigenous peoples to Christianity.

In 1540, the Conceptionists nuns were first female religious order to arrive in the Americas by way of New Spain with settlements in Mexico City and Puebla. On the day a Conceptionist nun would take her vow to Christ, she would wear a large floral crown with an elaborate gown of fine textiles, sometimes holding a candle or a small sculpture of the Christ Child. By the 17th century, this formal presentation would be commonly be highlighted by a large circular disc worn on the chest known as an escudo de monja.

Such prominent badges appear to be a fusion of early indigenous pectoral ornaments and jewelry worn by women of Aztec/Mexica nobility with the traditional Spanish veneras and relicarios of Marian followers. These devotional shields or badges were frequently paintings on vellum or copper and sometimes finely embroidered silk, completed with a  frame of exotic tortoiseshell. The images upon them were designed to promote the avocation of Mary, showing the Virgin with a white habit and blue mantle, surrounded by a myriad of Holy figures.

Most Mexican religious orders were extensions of the wealthy aristocracy and each unique piece was specifically commissioned at the request of the nun’s family and often created by the leading artists of the time. The function of such artworks became not only message to display a nun’s piety, but as a overt expression of the lineage and wealth of her family. In order to maintain the appearance of Christian austerity and humility, sumptuary laws were passed in the early 17th century, banning members of the convent from wearing lavish ornaments of gold and precious gems. These large escudos, up to 25 cm in diameter, also became an act of defiance and a way to circumvent such imposed reforms.

While the nuns were cloistered, their image was not, and elaborate paintings were important documents created in order to project such statements to the outside world in perpetuity. When a nun passed away, some escudos were buried with them, while others were gifted to the family or given to another sister.

Following the Wars of Independence(1810-21), a secular intensity spread among native Mexicans and Creoles(Spanish decent born in Mexico)against Spanish rule and the church.  As a result, religious orders became more private and devotional expression more discreet and escudos all but disappeared in the late 19th century.

Inquire >