Saint Isidore the Laborer

Repainted polychrome; oxen of modern wood, gesso, paint; woven straw hat; split-bamboo basket.
Approximately 2½ feet tall (76 cm.).
On an andas of wood
Huitzo, Oaxaca, Mexico

This santo of St. Isidore the Laborer includes yoked white oxen, a goad, a white straw hat and short brown jacket, a basket, and a sheaf of straw on his back).

The tunic was made by applying cloth to wood before the polychroming. At the bottom left of the tunic, the polychrome pattern shines through the recent paint. The statue shows deterioration. The left boot is chipped and the rotting wood and worn cloth can be seen. The left hand, which holds the basket, has broken middle and pinkie fingers; the right pinkie has been glued on crookedly. From the extended right arm, the full sleeves of the tunic hang down to hip level; the belted tunic closes with four black buttons. At the neck, the white collar of the shirt shows. The oxen have been decorated with necklaces of blackware beads. The basket is of Tlacolula design.

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Photographed at the church by Claire and Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.