Infierno y Gloria

Pero, querido Satán, te lo suplico, ¡menos irritación en la pupila!

[Arthur Rimbaud]

Little is known about the life of Jose Lopez de los Rios. Those who do know about it do not post the information online. There are two sayings that in this case go hand in hand, first of all regarding information and why José Lopez de los Ríos life is not documented, and easily accessed online, the first saying, “everything happens for a reason.” The second saying goes hand in hand with legends and the name of the painting itself and leads straight into the heart of Bolivia today, it says “Where there was fire, ashes remain”.

José de Mesa believed that José Lopez de los Ríos was the Master of Calamarca. Some say this painter was Spanish while some say he was mestizo, meaning born in Latin America but descendent of European and Latin American lineage. Another theory is that many painters painted different series. If so they must haave had some kind of contact, direct or indirect between themselves. These theories still do not explain many things.

“Inferno” and “Glory” by Lopez de los Rios, where painted on linen. According to those who examined the pieces Linen was a material frequenctly used for courier type bags of the late 1600s. During a revision of the reverse of Inferno, which measure 8.20 metres long by 4.1 wide, an restauration spokeman, said the stitching of this style of bag can still be appreciated. Whether Lopez de los Ríos is the Master of Calamarca or not his painting Inferno took us the Master´s story and to many other. Inferno does not only contain vast information, it is a master key to Glory and to the winged Angels.

"Que el misterio perdure sublime"