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. |
Santiago Tejuapam |
|
We do not have pictures from Santiago Tejuapam.
El Señor de la Misericordia Crucifix, 3½'. The glass is dusty, making the crucifix hard to see. Location: Glass case in the upper center of the main altar. San Pedro Keys, triple cross. Painted wood; painted eyes; fabric gar-ments; 5½'. Old but crude. The garments seem quite new. The keys are in the figure's right hand, and a staff is in the left. The left ring finger is missing. Location: Organ area off the choir loft. Unidentified Male Saint Holds infant in both hands. Polychrome; eye-lashes, painted eyes; 5'. The garments are thickly sculpted, indicating they are wood rather than stiffened cloth. The face and hands have a repainted, rubbery look. Location: Glass case in a retablo on a stone base along the north wall of the nave. San Isidro Oxen; guayabera and green trousers. Glass eyes, fabric garments. 3½'. The bulls are separate from the statue and could be of separate prove-nance. The backs of the hands are naturalistically detailed, but in other respects this does not seem to be an old statue. Location: On a rudimentary wooden shelf on the north wall of the nave. Christ Fallen with the Cross Cruciform halo, stylized crown of thorns. Wood, gesso, paint; glass eyes, no lashes, wig; 3½' from ground to highest reach of knuckles. The figure has fallen under the cross. Realistic blood flows from the crown of thorns and the scuffs on the knuckles. Location: Glass case in a retablo on a stone stand in the north wall of the nave. Christ Child. Wood, gesso, paint; 2'. The statue has an eighteenth-century look. Location: Left of the fallen Christ (see above). Resurrected Christ Vexillum, brief loincloth. Polychrome loincloth; glass eyes, painted lashes, wig; 3½'. The navel shows. Location: Right of the fallen Christ (see above). Virgin and Child
Apparently polychrome; glass eyes, sculpted hair; 3½'.
The pattern on the cape matches the carved "drapery" behind the statue, which depends from a cupola. The cape has been repainted, but the left sleeve seems to be polychrome beneath the dust and the touch-ups. The look on the face is not like those of the earlier santos.
Location: Lower section of the retablo at the east end of the north wall of the nave.
Santo Stripped to the Waist
Polychrome; eyes may be glass; 3½'.
The figure is stripped as if for flogging. It has a five o'clock shadow. The garments flowing from the waist are polychrome. As with the Virgin and Child below, their pattern matches the carved drapery depending from a cupola above. The skin has a fine, lifelike sheen.
Location: Upper section of the retablo at the east end of the north wall of the nave.
Santiago
Shepherd's crook with vial, book.
Polychrome; eyes may be glass; 5'.
The right hand holds the crook, from the top of which hangs the vial. The figure holds the book, closed, in the crook of the left arm. The skin may have been repainted. It has a rubbery look, although the sheen is not bad.
Location: Lower center of the main altar.
Unidentified Female Saint
Polychrome; 3½'.
The figure wears a veil and wimple. The right hand holds out a small cross toward the viewer.
Location: Left of the Santiago in the main altar.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria?
Long hair.
Polychrome; 4½'.
The right hand holds a pole. As part of the sculpture, a severed head is at the figure's right foot, face up. European representations of Catherine of Alexandria set the severed head of Maximian at her feet.
Location: Right of the Santiago in main altar.
La Virgen del Carmen
Child, brown habit, bib, lace veil, scapulars.
Wood, gesso, paint; glass eyes, lashes; wig on Virgin, sculpted hair on child; fabric garments; 5½'.
The face has a charming lifelike blush, but the hands have a rubbery look.
Location: Glass case in a retablo on a stone base at the east end of the south wall of nave.
San Miguel?
Greaves.
Fabric garments; 3'.
The figure wears a shirt, vest, and cape--as well as a Phrygian cap with a cross stuck onto its front. There are no other emblems.
Location: Above the Carmen (see above).
|