Bernardo de Legarda (c. 1700 – 1773)
• Was an Ecuadorian artists of the Quito School movement.
• Legarda was a mestizo artist and the one who best personified the art of sculpture in the capital of Quito during his period.
• His first artwork dated from 1731 when he restored an image of Saint Luke in the Church of Santo Domingo, after which he was much in demand.
• In 1732 he was commissioned to do a sculpture of the Immaculate Conception for the Church of San Francisco.
• This work, which became known as the Virgin of Quito (1734), met with great approval and countless copies and imitations were made throughout the Royal Audiencia of Quito.
• Legarda created a series of Immaculate Conceptions ("Virgins of Quito") and Assumptions.
• Legarda, who was also skilled jeweler, did many figures for Nativities.
