St. Gregory

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St. Gregory

Artist Andrés López (Mexican, 1727 - 1807)

Place of OriginMexico

Date18th century

Dimensions17 1/2 × 13 1/2 in. (44.5 × 34.3 cm)

MediumOil on canvas

ClassificationPaintings

Credit LineGift of Edward B. Davison and Cathy O. Blight, M.D., and Fenton M. and Marilyn M. Davison

Object number

2021.8

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 23A, New Media

DescriptionThe Four Doctors, or Fathers, of the Latin Church are St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. Augustine, and St. Gregory the Great. The present series includes St. Jerome and St. Gregory the Great, but substitutes for St. Ambrose and St. Augustine two other later doctrinal writers, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure, granted the title Doctor of the Church since the 16th century. St. Gregory – Gregory the Great (ca. 540 – 604) served as pope from 590 to 604. He is depicted seated in a typical colonial, neoclassical chair. He is wearing the appropriate vestments with the papal tiara and three barred cross of staff in the background. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove hovers above him.

Published ReferencesFlint Institute of Arts, The Fenton R. McCreery Collection of Mexican Colonial Paintings, 1971, nrs. 6-9 [with other three paintings in series].Exhibition HistoryFlint, MI, Flint Institute of Arts, The Fenton R. McCreery Collection of Mexican Colonial Paintings, 1971, nrs. 6-9 [with other three paintings in series].