Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient ChurchesA study of santos in 16th-century and other churches in Oaxaca, Mexico
By Claire and Richard Stracke Funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation |
Santa Magdalena Jaltepec |
Jaltepec is a town of about 3,500 people in the
Mixteca region of Oaxaca state. In our 1991 visit the
authorities asked that we not take photos or notes during
our visit to this church, and the following comments are
drawn simply from memory. All four of the santos on the main retablo (two on the left, arranged vertically, and two on the right, also arranged vertically) wear flowing, delicately done polychrome garments with a fine "windblown" look. The faces are well executed, but there is a heavy amount of dust on all four. We identified only one of them, St. Michael. Behind the retablo is a curtain. According to the sacristan and the little we could glimpse, there are behind the curtain several old polychrome statues. Another santo that we did not inspect was in a glass case in the second bay of the south wall of the nave. Virgin and Child Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint fabric garments. Eyes: Glass eyes. Hair: Wig. Size: 4½ feet (137 cm.) Location: 1st chapel in the north wall of nave. Saint Sebastian The surface has the look of modern commercial "flat" paints. Local Name: San Sebastián. Basis for Identification: Tree. Location: Left front area of table in 2nd chapel in the north wall of nave. Media and construction: Wood, gesso,
paint. Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Ocotlán, Teotitlán, Tilantongo, Xoxocotlán, Yanhuitlán. External Links: Saint Isidore the Laborer
The face looks old.
Local Name: San Isidro Labrador. Basis for Identification: Flat-top hat. Location: Glass case, center rear area of table in 2nd chapel in the north wall of the nave. Media and construction: Wood, gesso,
paint, fabric garments. Size: 4½ feet
(137 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Coixtlahuaca, Huitzo, Tamazulapan, Teitipac, Teposcolula. External Links: Palm Sunday Christ Location: 2nd chapel in the north wall of the nave. Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Santa Ana del
Valle, Cuilapan,
Mitla, Ocotlán,
Díaz
Ordaz, Tamazulapan,
Teitipac,
Teotitlán,
Teposcolula,
Tlacolula,
Yanhuitlán. External Link: Christ Wood, gesso, paint. Eyes: Glass. Hair: Wig. Size: About 5 feet (150 cm.) Location: In front of a coffin, the east of 2nd chapel
in the the north wall of the nave. Christ in the Purple Robe Basis for Identification: Purple robe.
Location: Glass case to the right of the Christ described above.
Media and construction: Eyes: Painted. Hair: Bald. Size: About 4 feet tall (120 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Ejutla, Etla (in the Soldedad Group), Etla2, Mitla, Tamazulapan, Teitipac1, Teitipac2, Teitipac3, Teotitlán, Teposcolula, Tilantongo, Tlacolula, Xoxocotlán. External Links: Crucifix The skin is very finely done. Local Name: El Señor de la Misericordia.
Location: The northeast corner of the nave.
Wood, gesso, paint. Hair: Wig (?). Size: 1½ feet
(45 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Santa Ana del Valle1, Santa Ana del Valle2, Santa Ana del Valle3, Cuilapan, Etla, Guelavia, Mitla, Nochixtlán, Tamazulapan1, Tamazulapan2, Teitipac1, Teitipac2, Teitipac3, Teotitlán1, Teotitlán2, Teposcolula1, Teposcolula2, Teposcolula3 (in Rosary case), Teposcolula Convento1, Teposcolula Convento2, Tilantongo1, Tilantongo2, Tlacolula, Xoxocotlán1, Xoxocotlán2, Xoxocotlán3, Xoxocotlán4, Yanhuitlán1, Yanhuitlán2, Yanhuitlán Convento1, Yanhuitlán Convento2, Yanhuitlán Convento3, Yanhuitlán Convento4, Yanhuitlán Convento5, Yanhuitlán Ayuxi Chapel, Zimatlán. External Links: Saint Mary Magdalene Local Name: La Santa Magdalena.
Location: Front left area of apse.
Media and construction: Polychrome. Size: About 4 feet (120 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Coixtlahuaca, Ejutla, Huitzo, Ocotlán, Tamazulapan, Teotitlán, Teposcolula. External Links: Santo. Media and construction: Polychrome.
Under 3 feet (90 cm.) Saint Mary Magdalene Basis for Identification: So identified by the caretaker. Other characteristics: The hair is dark in color. Media and construction: Fabric garments. Hair: Wig. Size: About 4½ feet (135 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Coixtlahuaca, Ejutla, Huitzo, Ocotlán, Tamazulapan, Teotitlán, Teposcolula. External Links: Crucifix Local Name: El Señor de la Misericordia. Location: Behind the Dios de la Muerte in the chapel off the the east end of the south wall of the nave. Christ Standing figure. The statue seems old. Location: chapel off the the east end of the south wall of nave. Media and construction: Wood, gesso,
paint, fabric garments. Eyes: Glass.
Hair: Wig. Size: 4½ feet (137 cm.) Trinity (Throne of Mercy) Old, dusty, and worn looking, but it seems to be polychrome. Both the Son and the Holy Spirit are missing. Media and construction: Polychrome (?) Size: About 3½ feet (105 cm.) from top to toe. Location: Left rear area of table in second chapel in the north wall of the nave. Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Diaz Ordaz, Tamazulapan, Teitipac, Teotitlán, Tlacolula, Xoxocotlán, Yanhuitlán. External Links: Saint Michael
Flowing, delicately done polychrome garments with a fine "windblown" look. The face is well executed, but there is a heavy amount of dust. Basis for Identification: Cutaway tunic.
Location: Upper right section of the retablo of the main altar. Media and construction: Polychrome. Size: Under 3 feet (90 cm.)Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla1,
Achiutla2,
Achiutla3,
Achiutla4,
Cuilapan,
Huitzo, Ocotlán,
Tamazulapan, Teotitlán,
Teposcolula1,
Teposcolula2, Teposcolula3,
Yanhuitlán. External Links: Calvary
Flanking the Misericordia are the Virgin Mary
and St. Mary Magdalene, described below.
Location: Before the retablo of the main altar. CrucifixThe figure on the cross has an old-looking high sheen. There is not much blood, just enough to remind the viewer of the story, at the five wounds and the scuffed knees. There is little or no blood flowing from the crown of thorns.
Local Name: El Señor de la Misericordia. Media and construction: Eyes: Closed.
Hair: Wig. Size: about 6½ feet (198 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Santa Ana del Valle1, Santa Ana del Valle2, Santa Ana del Valle3, Cuilapan, Etla, Guelavia, Mitla, Nochixtlán, Tamazulapan1, Tamazulapan2, Teitipac1, Teitipac2, Teitipac3, Teotitlán1, Teotitlán2, Teposcolula1, Teposcolula2, Teposcolula3 (in Rosary case), Teposcolula Convento1, Teposcolula Convento2, Tilantongo1, Tilantongo2, Tlacolula, Xoxocotlán1, Xoxocotlán2, Xoxocotlán3, Xoxocotlán4, Yanhuitlán1, Yanhuitlán2, Yanhuitlán Convento1, Yanhuitlán Convento2, Yanhuitlán Convento3, Yanhuitlán Convento4, Yanhuitlán Convento5, Yanhuitlán Ayuxi Chapel, Zimatlán. External Links: Our Lady of
Sorrows Media and construction: Hair: Wig. Fabric garments. Size: about 5 feet (150 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla,
Santa Ana del
Valle, Coixtlahuaca,
Cuilapan1,
Cuilapan2,
Ejutla, Mitla, Nochixtlán,
Ocotlán, Díaz
Ordaz, Tamazulapan,
Teitipac,
Teotitlán, Teposcolula
(in Calvary group), Tlacolula,
Xoxocotlán, Yanhuitlán (?). External Links: St. Mary
Magdalene Local Name: La Santa Magdalena. Media and construction: Polychrome.
Eyes: Glass, with lashes. Hair: Wig. Parted lips. Size:
About 3½ (105 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Coixtlahuaca, Ejutla, Huitzo, Ocotlán, Tamazulapan, Teotitlán, Teposcolula. External Links: Christ in a Coffin Local Name: El Dios de la Muerte.
Location: Chapel off the east end of the south wall of nave.
Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint. Eyes: glass. Hair: wig. Lips parted. Life size. Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Huitzo, Mitla, Tamazulapan, Teitipac, Teotitlán, Teposcolula, Tlacolula, Xoxocotlán (in Soledad group), Zaachila. External Links: Immaculate Heart of Mary Basis for Identification: Hands down, palms out, with flaming heart. No halo. Location: Glass case in the first bay in the south wall of the nave. Wood, gesso, paint, fabric garments. Eyes: glass, with lashes. Hair: wig. Size: 4½ feet (135 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Cuilapan,
Huitzo, Mitla, Teitipac,
Teposcolula,
Zaachila,
Zimatlán. External Links: Next church |