Illuminated manuscript, “Libro primero de las missas de la Virgen Nuestra Señora: Missas votibas de Santos, Fiestas moviles. Para el uso del Convento y Hospital de Nuestra Señora de Bethlem de Mexico.” Mexico City, 1702. Folio extra (53 x 38 cm), [2], 134, [4] ff.
18th-century Mexico City was the largest and richest city in the New World. After a century of decline, Mexico’s silver production was again robust thanks to new technologies and cut-throat business practices; additionally, Spain’s trade with the Spice Islands, China, and the rest of Asia travelled though Mexico City and brought additional wealth to its merchants and opulence to its residents. The city boasted European-trained painters, French chefs, sophisticated silversmiths, bon-bon shops, goldsmiths who confected such “essentials” as 22k earwax spoons — and manuscript illuminators
