Susan Webster

This study explores the socio-cultural context of colonial architecture in terms of its practitioners and patrons in Quito, Ecuador. As the first broad, synthetic investigation of the topic, this study focuses on the identities, training, and professional practices of the architects of Quito's major buildings, and investigates the contributions of indigenous artisans. It also examines the influence that the patrons, who ranged from bishops and religious orders to secular elites and lay confraternities, exerted on the buildings they commissioned and financed. Based on extensive archival research, this project explores the context of the major architectural projects undertaken between 1650 and 1750 in order to characterize the distinctive nature of colonial Quiteñan architecture.