Between Paintbrushes and Paintings. The books of painter Miguel Cabrera

Abstract

After the death of Miguel Cabrera in May of 1768, the inventory and assessment of his properties was initiated. Knowledgeable persons with links to the painting trade were appointed to carry out the assessment. The document offers a broad perspective that, within the framework of New Spain, evokes the topic “the painter’s home”; The fact that the books and paintings were the object of special attention among the wide range of goods registered, reflects this idea. The study of the inventory of Cabrera’s library, with respect to the rest of the document, allows us to discuss some characteristics of his painting techniques and assess how the painter’s books could contribute to an interpretation of different aspects of his work. More than elucidating if Cabrera was truly a “pictor doctus”, the study underscores to what degree a different analysis of his book collection may help to qualify and redefine this term within the framework of the art of painting in New Spain in the 18th century. More importantly, it proposes that the quantity of books and their simple thematic classification are not what define a painter as a “liberal artist”. As a result, it paves the way to new questions.