Ir al contenido principal

"CRISTO DE LOS ANDES" - "CHRIST OF THE ANDES"

 Hi, dear readers!

In this occasion, we are going to a famous church in Quito downtown, which is “La Compañía de Jesús in Garcia Moreno street, did you remember the Cornejo-Cevallos House’s legend?

Well, this church is in front of that place. So, let’s continue reading!

Many years ago, Manuel Chili was the little famous indigenous, who worked at “La Compañía de Jesús” church, and suddenly he became an excellent artist. 

The Jesuits decided to take him in charge, gave him food and a little money for his work because they did not have the recognition of true artists. Furthermore, they also offered him special training in art, sculpture and painting. Manuel was recognized with a pseudonym that in Kichwa it means “wooden face”, thus was born the great Caspicara!

The priests could not believe that Manuel had been recognized as that great artist. Manuel worked twelve hours a day on scaffolding and dangerous edges. This created a strange phobia of heights. They say that because of this phobia he remained silent for long periods with his eyes closed. His fame spread and his works to price in great gold weights.

Unfortunately, Manuel Chili was died in the greatest poverty and abandoned in a hospice. However, the churches of our country, as well as those of Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Spain, enjoyed the majesty of their Christs, Marys and child gods’ sculptures.


His famous work was an awesome Christ's sculpture and because of his ethnicity the original name "Christ of the Andes".

Hope you enjoy this legend!


Have you ever been in “La Compañía de Jesús” church?

Did you know the author’s name behind the great paintings of “La Compañía” church?

Comentarios

  1. I liked your post, It was interesting. I knew about Legarda's works him and his contribution to the Quito School of Art. However, I heard a little information about Caspicara and his paintings. I like so much about the colonial era in Quito and how our indigenous were able to do magnificent paintings, sculptures, and even built great churches. Thanks for sharing this information with us.

    ResponderEliminar

Publicar un comentario

Entradas populares de este blog

EL CASTILLO DEL GRINGO LOCO – THE CRAZY GRINGO’S CASTLE

  Hi, dear readers! Last weekend, some friends told me an interesting, fantastic and really mysterious legend, so I want to share it with you. That does not happen in Quito city, but it is located at Sangolguí in Valle de los Chillos, next to the capital city. Have you ever heard or been in “El Castillo del Gringo Loco”? A t this place, it is said that more than 20 years ago there was a “gringo”, one of those militaries who survived the Second World War and he decided to settle in a calm place, where he could forget about the bombings and violence of his life as a soldier. The ex-military man moved to Sangolguí to a big place surrounded by forests, birds and a lot of vegetation. He began to build his house, a not very common one because, it is full of entrances and exits of dark tunnels. That makes the place a really mysterious one, and some people tells several horror stories of the haunted place. According to the story, this man and his wife were waiting for a baby, but t...

EL GUAGUA AUCA

Hi, everyone! For this post, I want to start with two questions: Do you believe in paranormal events? Or Have you ever hear something related to the devil? Well, in this legend you will know a mysterious story about a little demon that happens in Quito city, but it does not exist a specific area. S ome people says that “Guagua Auca” is a demon  created by a child’s soul who was born and died without being baptized. It is he who terrifies drunkards on the roads late at night. What likes to do it is cry with an incessant and noisy shriek that makes anyone desperate. The drunken men unknowingly search for the source of the squeal until they find what seems to be a little baby wrapped in a blanket. After that, drunkards discover how the appearance of the supposed child changes and they realize that they were actually carrying a demon. Some drunk men said that after that day, it was the final of his drunkenness. However, most people say that many drunkards have been found de...

"The coat's student" - "La capa del estudiante"

Hi, dear readers! In this post, I am going to tell you a new legend that caught my attention and also, I am scared stiff. My grandpa last weekend told me that it happens in “El Tejar” neighborhood, specifically in the cemetery. Have you been there once? Juan is the principal character of this story; he was a really vain boy and he liked wearing his high school uniform in excellent conditions. However, it was the time of final tests and his boots were really old, so he was worried about that and he wanted to buy new ones. His friends told him that he could sell his coat and with that money he could be able to buy a new pair of boots. At the beginning, Juan did not want to do that, but after a few minutes that they were talking, his friends accepted to lend him the money but with an only condition. A few days ago, Juan’s ex-girlfriend committed suicide because, Juan was unfaithful in their relationship. So, the friends’ condition was Juan should go that night to his ex-girlfriend’s gra...