City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 10-2014 Disseminating Devotion: The Image and Cult of the Black Christ in Colonial Mexico and Central America Elena FitzPatrick Sifford Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/332 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact:
[email protected] DISSEMINATING DEVOTION: THE IMAGE AND CULT OF THE BLACK CHRIST IN COLONIAL MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA by ELENA FITZPATRICK SIFFORD A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Art History in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The City University of New York 2014 ©2014 ELENA FITZPATRICK SIFFORD All Rights Reserved ii This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Art History in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Date Dr. Eloise Quiñones Keber Chair of Examining Committee ____________________ ________________________________________ Date Dr. Claire Bishop Acting Executive Officer ____________________ ________________________________________ ___________________________________ Dr. Amanda Wunder ____________________________________ Dr. Timothy Pugh ____________________________________ Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank Supervisory Committee THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK iii Abstract DISSEMINATING DEVOTION: THE IMAGE AND CULT OF THE BLACK CHRIST IN COLONIAL MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA by Elena FitzPatrick Sifford Adviser: Dr. Eloise Quiñones Keber Following the conquest of Mexico in 1521, Spanish conquerors and friars considered it their duty to bring Christianity to the New World.