Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient Churches
A study of santos in 16th-century and other churches in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Claire and Richard Stracke. Funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.
Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient ChurchesA study of santos in 16th-century and other churches in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Claire and Richard Stracke. Funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. |
La Virgen del Rosario |
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Our Lady of the Rosary (Carrying child in white dress on her right palm; rosary draped from right hand over to child, left hand extended palm forward; pendant earrings with red stone).
Polychrome; carved hair, lashes, painted eyes; closed mouth; child's dress is white embroidered cotton; 3'. The statue is delicate, and has the round, full face of a young woman; it has large round eyes and large, well-formed ears. The hair flows onto the shoulders and across the back. There are signs of repair at the thumb of her right hand. Garments appear to be of wood rather than stiffened cloth: the wood can be seen at a small chip in the gesso at a fold about 6" above and to the left of the left foot. Tips of shoes protrude. The mantle is black and gold in a pattern of large and small flowers and feath-ery leaves and is bordered in black. The robe is almost solid gold, with a suggestion of red showing; sleeves are lined in red. The child has glass eyes, carved hair, empty left hand; right hand is clos-ing as if to make the sign of the cross. Skin color is much lighter than that of the virgin. The wood of the base of the statue is split. The child has long slender limbs, unlike the Renaissance roundness of the virgin's hands. Location: In a retablo behind a grill at the east end of the south wall of nave. |