St. Paul

Wood, gesso, paint; glass eyes; fabric garments, metal halo and sword; paper scroll
Approximately 5 feet tall (1½ m.).
Church at Huitzo, Oaxaca, Mexico

Following ancient tradition St. Paul is depicted with a scroll, a sword, and a pointy beard. Non-traditional are the white robe, the red cape, and the ring on his left index finger.

The point of the sword rests on the floor and the saint holds it somewhat as one might a walking stick. The rolled paper scroll is held forth in the left hand, on the index finger of which a golden ring has been placed. The saint is shown in middle age and has an ascetic, high-boned face and a full, oval beard. The garments are the same color as the unidentified saint at the left of the altar: white robe, red cape, gold cincture. The design on the cape is of appliquéd gold lamé, like the bib of the Carmen which is also in the sanctuary and may be from the same hand. The altar was designed to accommodate only this one statue.

Read more about images of St. Paul.

• Home Page
• Iconography of St. Paul
• This Picture

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