“This photograph offers a rare glimpse into a convent in La Cruz, Mexico, captured in 1867 during a pivotal moment in Mexican history. It's a striking historical document, part of a series related to the dramatic events surrounding Emperor Maximilian's execution.”
This albumen silver print captures a stark, almost desolate view of a convent in La Cruz, Mexico, in 1867. The building, with its simple, unadorned facade, dominates the frame, its rigid lines contrasting with the more organic shapes of the surrounding landscape. The photograph's muted tones and sharp focus on architectural detail create a sense of quiet observation, perhaps reflecting the turbulent political climate of Mexico at the time. This image is part of a series documenting significant sites and figures related to the execution of Emperor Maximilian, suggesting it may have served as a visual record of a place connected to these dramatic historical events. The composition emphasizes the structure's imposing presence, hinting at its role as a place of refuge or confinement during a period of intense upheaval.
- Artist
- Noriega
- Date
- 1867
- Medium
- Albumen silver print from glass negative
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- Image: 11.3 × 14.2 cm (4 7/16 × 5 9/16 in.)
- Collection
- Photographs
- Credit line
- Gilman Collection, Museum Purchase, 2005
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
![[Convent in La Cruz]](https://images.artwhisper.app/artworks/6398dd56-6aad-483e-8ae5-c0cd71c20eec/c5e0efc6-c160-43d0-8a4a-ea5b2d20e4c9_sm.jpg)
The strong shadows cast by the building, emphasizing its solid form.
The texture of the stone walls, visible despite the photograph's age.
The single, small window on the upper floor, hinting at an interior life.
The sparse vegetation in the foreground, suggesting a rugged environment.
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Noriega
Susana Noriega is a Mexican painter, one of several notable individuals sharing the Noriega surname.
Further Works by Noriega
Simon Vouet
1630 · Art Institute of Chicago
[Baron von Magnus, autograph of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, Dr. Bosch]
1867 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Death Scene]
1867 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Emperor Maximilian's Death Carriage]
1867 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[General Tomas Mejia, Emperor Maximilian, General Misamon]
1867 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Gran Teatro de Iturbide]
1867 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Place of imprisonment for Emperor Maxmilian of Mexico and soldiers]
1867 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Prison, Capuchin Convent]
1867 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Noriega: works from the same years.
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Barks Fleeing Before the Storm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1870 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Paris Street; Rainy Day
Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Approaching Storm
William Hart · 1867 · Gilcrease Museum
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Beach at Sainte-Adresse
Claude Monet · 1867 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
In the Auvergne
Jean-François Millet · 1866 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Patio of the Palace of the Duke of Alba, Seville: Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta painting
Mariano Fortuny Marsal · 1868 · Hispanic Society of America
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Banks of the Marne in Winter
Camille Pissarro · 1866 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Races at Longchamp
Édouard Manet · 1866 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Valley of Les Puits-Noir
Gustave Courbet · 1868 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
A Woman Seated beside a Vase of Flowers (Madame Paul Valpinçon?)
Edgar Degas · 1865 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Mountain View at Bormio (from Switzerland 1869 Sketchbook)
John Singer Sargent · 1869 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
![[Convent in La Cruz] by Noriega](https://images.artwhisper.app/artworks/6398dd56-6aad-483e-8ae5-c0cd71c20eec/c5e0efc6-c160-43d0-8a4a-ea5b2d20e4c9_lg.jpg)