The Virgin Mary Spinning, preserved in excellent condition, is a rare and valuable artwork from the early 18th century Cuzco school. Its iconography, rooted in the Protoevangelium of James and Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, depicts Mary spinning as a symbol of her purity and premonition of Christ’s future Passion.

Originally created by Juan Simón Gutiérrez in Seville, the painting became popular in the Americas, where it was adapted with local stylistic elements. This version retains the original design but includes Cuzco-style embellishments, like decorative borders and floral garlands. The painting reflects a shift towards a more emotive and less dramatic view of death in Baroque art.

The widespread popularity of this iconography suggests it was commonly used in both monastic and private settings, highlighting a cultural shift in attitudes toward death during the Latin American Baroque period.