Novohispanic School. Mexico. 17th century. “Saint Ignatius of Loyola praying and in ecstasy beneath the Holy Trinity and the Madonna and Child”. Oil on copper.  22,5 x 16 cm. Small painting of the founder of the Society of Jesus in prayer and ecstasy, beneath the Holy Trinity and Mary Most Holy who presents him to her Son, who gives His name to the Jesuit order founded by Loyola. With vibrant colors, the most curious thing about this small oil painting is its support, an engraved copper plate by Hyeronimus Wierix, with “S. Maria Maior”, Salus Populi Romani, with St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier praying, made in Amsterdam, by order of the Society for the canonization of these saints in 1622. This reuse and economy of media was frequent. Engravings were widely circulated and used as religious prints to inspire private devotion, and they would later be colored to give them greater warmth and a feeling of closeness. When thes engravings became sufficiently widespread or when the engraving was scratched or damaged, they were used on the other side for small format paintings, due to the hardness and durability of the base. This painting has a straight, ebonized cane frame from the 18th century.