Conforming to the Prototype: The Virgin of Copacabana and her Copies, between Lake Titicaca and Madrid

Abstract

This article examines the dissemination of the image of the Virgin of Copacabana, a prominent Marian image in the Andean Plateau (Altiplano) on the shores of Lake Titicaca. In analyzing modifications to the images of the Virgin of Copacabana–in an itinerary that spans the Andes to Madrid–this analysis is based on the weighing of works, colonial chronicles, and specialized studies that address different aspects of the diffusion of the images of Copacabana. This text addresses the issue of collective authorship in the Andes and the symbolic value that unfolds in the production of copies conforming to the original prototype of Copacabana.