Artisans held important positions in the Aztec empire, as they produced prestige and luxury products for the elite. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga (1537 - 1556) promoted the pre-Hispanic tradition of feather craftsmanship in Michoacan in the second half of the 16th century. The town of Pátzcuaro developed into a centre for handicrafts, especially gold and feather work. The feather painting depicts a Madonna on a crescent moon. The metallic blue shimmering hummingbird feathers are striking in this very well-preserved work. Since the end of the 18th century, this craft technique has been characterised by the introduction of painted parts in the feather mosaic, especially the more complicated parts of the picture. Here the hands and face are painted in oil. (M. Gaida 2003)