Venalidad, práctica cotidiana y ritual: a propósito de la puja por el empleo de depositario general en el Cabildo de Quito, 1777-1783

This article proposes a look at the interconnections that relate venality to the ritual associated with it. The proposal approaches the council through three concepts (venality, daily practice and ritual) in order to explore a facet of the institution with little traffic. It aims to link the sale of trades with the spaces, symbols and ceremonials that accompany its development. The use of custom, the public square, the proclamations, the taking of possession or the oath configured a daily scenario in which the buyer of the trade ended up becoming an active subject of the representation of local power. Particular attention is paid to the job bidding process. Methodologically, records of the auction of trades and actual confirmation records have been used for its analysis.