José Campeche (San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1751 - 1809) 'Divine Shepherdess' Oil on canvas. Signed. 72 x 55 cm. The canvas has added margins. It has two small patches on the reverse side.   Campeche was one of the most recognised Puerto-Rican artists. The only disciple of Luis Paret y Alcázar (1746-1799), who arrived at the island after being exiled by King Charles III, between 1775 and 1778. The Puerto Rico Art Museum has some of his works of art in their collection. His biographical index card there explains: 'He mainly developed religious themes and portraits in his painting. His work is considered to be rococo because of its interest in detail and ornamentation. Bluish greys and pinks dominate his palette, which he assimilated from Paret. In 2006 the Ponce Museum of Art organised an exhibition which travelled to the prestigious Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts and which included paintings by Campeche, Francisco Oller and Miguel Pou. Campeche has great mastery in portraits and miniatures, characteristics which lead him to be one of the most exalted and outstanding Hispanic-American painters of the late 18th century.'   Serene depiction of Mary as the Divine Shepherdess. As Luis Monreal y Tejada notes in his book 'Iconografía del Cristianismo', “she is a Baroque creation, a mystical counterpart to the figure of the Good Shepherd. She is dressed as a shepherdess of the time, with a hat [in this case, covered with a garland of flowers], bodice, wide skirt, and staff in hand, surrounded by lambs.”   Bibliographic reference: - Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. (n.d.). 'José Campeche'. https://www.mapr.org/es/museo/cede/artista/campeche-jose