The Passion of Christ in the Church of San Cristóbal de Rapaz: an example of medieval anti-Jewish iconography in colonial Peru?

Abstract

The remote Andean church of San Cristóbal de Rapaz in Peru would seem to be an unlikely place to find anti-Jewish imagery. Amongst the painted murals that adorn the inside of the church since the first half of the eighteenth century, is one representing the flagellation of Christ and another depicting Christ carrying the cross on his way to Calvary. In both of these murals, figures surrounding Jesus Christ are represented wearing unusual headgear. This article analyses the murals and the depiction of the men featured alongside Christ. Comparing the murals with medieval European iconography, it argues that the men are in fact Jews represented wearing the infamous pileus cornutus that was widely used to distinguish Jews in medieval Christian iconography. The article then proceeds to discuss the possible source of inspiration for these Peruvian murals and whether there could be a link with anti-converso sentiments in Peru during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

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