Mujer y arte en la Real Audiencia de Quito. Una pintura de la Virgen de la Merced en el monasterio de Las Conceptas de Cuenca (Ecuador)

The role played by female artists in 18th century colonial America continues to be a subject of heated debate and one in which further research is needed. The lack of opportunities and the obstacles encountered did not prevent some female artists, whether religious or not, from learning and developing their skills, and attaining a certain degree of acclaim. The present work analyses a series of examples related to the Real Audiencia of Quito, in particular the case of the painting known as the Virgen de la Merced (Virgin of Mercy) in the Museum of Las Conceptas in Cuenca. This investigation will focus on its author, history, and aesthetic and iconographic characteristics, in an attempt to unravel varying mysteries related to the artwork.