Besides the foundation by a Spanish conquistador a popular subject in Latin American historical paintings is the Christianization. It symbolizes the arrival of modern civilization and the importance of Catholicism.

But because of this these paintings are only typical for countries whose leading classes are strongly linked to Europe and are regarding themselves as whites. Normally the painters attended some years European art academies with the result that style and composition resembles a lot European academic painting.The first divine service in Brasil (1861) by the Brazilian painter Victor Meirelles (1832-1903).The first divine service in Chile (1904) by the Chilean painter Pedro Subercaseaux Errázuriz (1880-1956).