La Virgen del Cerro

In the top part of the painting, the Holy Trinity, represented by three different figures, participates in the coronation of the Virgin Mary:

  • the Eternal Father, dressed in a pluvial cape
  • the Son, showing the priest's accountrements for Mass
  • the Holy Spirit represented by a white dove.
  • To the left and to the right there are the archangels. San Miguel with a cross in his hands and San Gabriel holding a heart.
This celestial scene is divided from the terrestrial world by a glorious light with clouds and cherubins. The Inca Gods Inti (sun) and Quilla (moon) witness the crowning.

In the middle part the painting shows various allegories: the origin of the name of the city of Potosi. In the year 1462 the Emperor of the Incas, Huayna Capac, came to the very place that is now occupied by the city and was amazed when he saw the mountain known as Sumaj Orcko (Beautiful Mountain). He ordered his vassals to explore the mountain. Once they were done they heaved the uproar 'Potojsi'. This is where the name Potosi is derived from.

In another allegory, the discovery of silver in the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) takes place in 1544. The Indian Diego Huallpa grazed his llamas in the place which is now the Villa. One day some of his llamas headed towards the mountain and one of them was lost. In search of the lost animal Huallpa had to spend a night on the mountain and because of the cold he made a small campfire with some Keņau (a native bush) and wild grasses which grew there. The next morning, to his great amazament, Huallpa discovered silver veins, melted because of the heat of the fire.

In the lower part of the painting appear civil and religious authorities thanking God for the wealth of the Mountain. On the left the Pope, a Cardinal and a Bishop are depicted. On the right are Emperor Carlos V from Spain, a knight from Santiago and the donor. In between them a circle with a city, probably Potosi, which at that time was the center of economy and power in Latin America.