La aparición del Niño Jesús a San Juan de Dios, fundamento iconográfico de Ia Orden Hospitalaria. Aproximación al patrimonio artístico y avatares históricos de Ia ermita del Santo Niño de Gaucín

Abstract

This article describes an exhaustive historie study about iconographical origins of the Hospitable Order, founded in Granada by Saint John of God in tl1e rniddle of XVI century. On this sen se, his vision of the Child Jesus in the forest of "Adelfilla" next to village of Gaucín, in the province of Málaga, can be considered a conclusive event into biography whose should be named Father of the Poors, because of his whole service for the other people, ill people specially; being also a "hero" of the Counter Reformation. Along with these aspects, the article studies the isolated sanctuary consecrated to Child Jesus into Eagle's Fortress in Gaucín, ornate with exuberant baroque gypsum kiln, and its artistic patrimony what includes an interesting sculpture of Saint John of God, dated on XVII century.