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. |
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Virgen de la Asunción (Standing on horned moon; separate, full, silver crown; gold robe, blue cape).
Polychrome; more than 4'. This statue representing the Assumption of Mary is lovely in its composition and in the glowing freshness of the gold and paint. The very young face is a delicate triangle of wide-open, round eyes, long, narrow ears and a small mouth. The smooth cranium has been painted black and is covered by a long wig. The Virgin stares straight ahead, the slender neck balancing her small head. Her hands are joined in the symbol of prayer, palms together, fingertips aligned, just at the meeting point of the clavicles. The hands and forearms form two nearly 90 degree angles, as do the bends of the elbows. The effect is very formality and innocence. The statue wears a robe of gold polychrome with a molded lace collar; she wears a heavy mantle that is caught at the left hip, wraps around the front of the body, and then drapes over the left arm in geometric folds. The mantle is painted deep blue with gold stars, bordered in gold. The obverse is decorated in the same blue with narrow stripes of gold, the stripes grouped in broad bands. Within the case, Easter lilies and large pink roses are on either side of the statue. behind her, above her head is a white cloth on which American bills have been pinned. Location: Glass case centered in the retablo of the main altar. |