Background
De la Concha was born in Seville and came to the New World in 1568.
De la Concha was born in Seville and came to the New World in 1568.
He was an active painter from 1575 to 1612 and his work is preserved in several Mexican cathedrals, including the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. Although the later addition and misplacement of the artworks has made the original iconography and artistic attribution uncertain, it is believed that four of the ten original paintings contracted for by De la Concha still remain in the present retablo, together with one or two early statues of the Apostles. The four large canvases attributed to De la Concha are located in the outer calles of the retablo and comprise: 1) The Adoration of the Magi.
2) The Adoration of the Shepherds - the juxtaposition of these two themes or scenes was especially favored in the Americas.
3) The Annunciation; and 4) The Presentation at the Temple, or Circumcision. This last work repeats a theme seen in Andrés de la Concha"s work at Yanhuitlan and bears some similarity to the composition and palette used at nearby Coixtlahuaca - a style that might be described as Italian Mannerism with a mellow Andalusian flavor.
