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. In Teotitlán del
Valle: Christ
Child |
Two Crucifixes |
Two crucifixes: The larger crucifix is above and behind the smaller. They are made of similar very dark wood. The style of the sculpture would suggest a different artist, although the two have been dressed in identical garb, with the distinction that the diadem on the lower figure has been set with glass stones. Both are tied to their crosses by white bands at the chest. The wounds of the upper crucifix, but not the lower one, are highlighted by red paint. Both crosses are made of brass-capped dowels painted in dark green, the lower one further decorated with gold.
Local Name: El Señor de la
Misericordia. Basis for Identification: INRI
plaques, red loincloths with red scutums, sunburst
diadems for halos. Site: Church of Santa María
de la Natividad (Preciosa Sangre de Cristo),
Teotitlán del Valle. Location: In a glass case on an altar to the right of the second large altar along the north wall of the nave (see note). Media and construction: Polished wood, red paint, tin diadems, fabric loincloths and scutums. Hair: wigs. Size: About 4½
feet (135 cm.) and 3¼ feet (100
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, Teitipac Our Lady of the Rosary, Teotitlán1, Teotitlán2, Teposcolula1, Teposcolula2, Teposcolula3 (in Rosary case), Teposcolula Convento1, Teposcolula Convento2, Tilantongo1, Tilantongo2, Tlacolula1, Tlacolula2, Xoxocotlán1, Xoxocotlán2, Xoxocotlán3, Xoxocotlán4, Yanhuitlán1, Yanhuitlán2, Yanhuitlán Convento1, Yanhuitlán Convento2, Yanhuitlán Convento3, Yanhuitlán Convento4, Yanhuitlán Convento5, Yanhuitlán Ayuxi Chapel, Zimatlán. External Links: Next: On
the same altar a statue
of the resurrected Christ Introduction to Teotitlán del
Valle Note: On
this
site,
references to the cardinal directions always assume
that the main altar is at the east end of the church,
the narthex or entry area at the west end, and the two
walls
of the nave on the
north and south. (The
nave is the long central section.)
Actual orientations may differ. |