La Lechuga is a masterpiece of 18th-century religious goldsmithing, considered one of the most precious and impressive monstrances ever made. Its name, meaning “The Lettuce” in Spanish, derives from the abundance of emeralds that cover its solid gold structure. Designed by the Spanish silversmith José de Galaz between 1700 and 1707 for the Society of Jesus, this monstrance is an exceptional testimony to colonial craftsmanship, blending European influences with indigenous craftsmanship.
A Baroque masterpiece in the service of the sacred
It is widely believed that the Jesuits commissioned the manufacture of La Lechuga in order to conceal the precious stones it contained from the eyes of the Spanish Crown. To create this exceptional work, they called on Spanish silversmith José de Galaz, who worked with two other craftsmen between 1700 and 1707. The initial cost of the commission was 1,100 reales, equivalent to $100,000 in 1996. When José de Galaz completed the monstrance on July 16, 1707, he estimated its value at 20,000 reales, a colossal sum equivalent to around 2 million dollars in 1996. This extraordinary piece of goldsmithing quickly became one of the most precious treasures of the Catholic Church in Latin America.
La Lechuga: an exceptional composition
The structure of La Lechuga depicts a flaming sun, a central symbol in Christian iconography, surrounded by 22 emerald-set rays and 20 others adorned with baroque pearls. In the center, the host is set in a lunette surrounded by 63 smaller rays, while a gold-sculpted angel supports the whole with outstretched wings and arms raised to heaven. The richly decorated base incorporates motifs of acanthus leaves, vines and animal figures, revealing a stylistic influence that blends European Baroque art with indigenous Colombian traditions.
The Lechuga is crafted in 18-carat solid gold set with 1,759 precious stones, including 1,486 emeralds from the Muzo mine, 168 amethysts, 62 pearls, 28 diamonds, 13 rubies and a sapphire.
A mysterious and fascinating story
La Lechuga was kept in Bogotá’s San Ignacio church until 1767, when King Charles III of Spain expelled the Jesuits from all Spanish colonies. To avoid confiscation by the Crown, the monstrance was hidden for several centuries, disappearing completely from official archives. It was not until 1985 that it reappeared, when the Bank of the Republic of Colombia acquired it for $3.5 million to preserve it as a national treasure.
La Lechuga, a treasure preserved at the Miguel Urrutia Art Museum
Today, La Lechuga is on display at the Miguel Urrutia Museum of Art in Bogotá, where it attracts numerous visitors and researchers fascinated by its magnificence. Considered one of the finest examples of colonial goldsmithing in Latin America, it embodies both the technical excellence of the period and the refinement of the precious materials mined in Colombia, notably its famous emeralds.
