Rome, Ca. 1685. Gilded silver
One of the most outstanding sacred vessels of the Cathedral Treasure is the so-called Chalice of Archbishop Monroy, whose weapons appear on a silver plate added after the creation of this piece, likely made in one of the active workshops in Rome to meet the demands of the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the time. Hence, this piece might have been acquired in Rome by the prelate or it might have been a personal gift received in the same city on the occasion of his investiture as Archbishop of Santiago, which took place in 1685.
The chalice shows characteristics of the baroque style of the time, with profuse plant and carved decoration in allegorical forms, matching the style that prevailed in important actions that took place in the Compostela cathedral during the episcopate of this Dominican friar of Mexican origin, one of the most outstanding artistic patrons in the history of the cathedral.