Juan Francisco de Aguilera

Juan Francisco de Aguilera was a painter active in New Spain (present-day Mexico) during the early eighteenth century. Though his life remains poorly documented, he is considered a significant figure in the development of Mexican colonial painting.

Key facts

Movement
Works held in
2 museums[1]

Biography

Archival records place Aguilera in Mexico City around 1722 as a member of the first academy of painting established by the brothers Juan and Nicolas Rodriguez Juarez. Alongside Juan Rodriguez Juarez and Cristobal de Villalpando, he is credited with helping to drive a stylistic shift in New Spanish painting, introducing a softer, more atmospheric manner reminiscent of Bartolome Esteban Murillo and the school of Seville. This approach proved influential, shaping the fluid, painterly character of Mexican painting throughout the eighteenth century.

Some scholars have hypothesised that Aguilera was born in Spain, though no documentation confirms his origins or training. Known works include The Virgin of Carmen (c. 1720), a devotional painting on copper, and The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple (c. 1720), held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Timeline

  1. 1720Painted 'The Virgin of Carmen' (approximate date).
  2. 1720Painted 'The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple' (approximate date).
  3. 1722Member of the first academy of painting in Mexico City.
  4. 1722Worked with Juan Rodriguez Juarez and Cristobal de Villalpando.
  5. 1722Helped introduce a softer style to New Spanish painting.

Notable Works

Tap to view larger.

Where to See Juan Francisco de Aguilera

1 museum worldwide.

Plan your visit →

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art

    New York City, United States

    1 works
    Museum detailsMap

Related Artists

Edward Hopper

Edward Hopper

1882–1967 · American

James McNeill Whistler

James McNeill Whistler

1834–1903 · American

Grant Wood

Grant Wood

1891–1942 · American

David Roberts

David Roberts

1796–1864 · British

Diego Rivera

Diego Rivera

1886–1957 · Mexican

Andrew Wyeth

Andrew Wyeth

1917–2009 · American

Plan your visit to see Juan Francisco de Aguilera →

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What art movement was Juan Francisco de Aguilera part of?
    Juan Francisco de Aguilera was associated with the Realism movement.
  • What is Juan Francisco de Aguilera known for?
    Aguilera is known for helping to drive a stylistic shift in New Spanish painting. Alongside Juan Rodriguez Juarez and Cristobal de Villalpando, he introduced a softer, more atmospheric manner reminiscent of Bartolome Esteban Murillo and the school of Seville.
  • What was Juan Francisco de Aguilera's art style?
    Juan Francisco de Aguilera's art style introduced a softer, more atmospheric manner to New Spanish painting. This approach, reminiscent of Bartolome Esteban Murillo and the school of Seville, shaped the fluid, painterly character of Mexican painting throughout the eighteenth century.
  • Who was Juan Francisco de Aguilera?
    Juan Francisco de Aguilera was a painter active in New Spain (present-day Mexico) during the early eighteenth century. He is considered a significant figure in the development of Mexican colonial painting, despite his life being poorly documented.

Sources

Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Juan Francisco de Aguilera.

  1. [1] museum Metropolitan Museum of Art Used for: museum holdings.
  2. [2] book Nina A. Mallory, El Greco to Murillo Used for: biography.
  3. [3] book Lilian H. Zirpolo, Historical Dictionary of Baroque Art and Architecture Used for: biography.
  4. [4] book Palmer, Allison Lee, Historical Dictionary of Neoclassical Art and Architecture Used for: biography.

Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-12. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.

Editorial standardsMethodologyCorrectionsAI disclosureAbout the editorial teamCitation ledger

Back to Discover