San Nicolás

Wood, gesso, paint; painted eyes; polyester habit. Approximately 3 feet tall (91 cm.).
Church of San Juan Teitipac, Oaxaca, Mexico

The santo has a tonsure, a skull in the left hand, and a purple habit with a white cord. The right hand is raised in benediction. The skull, badly chipped and decomposed, is tied to the left hand, which is in a sling. Somewhat damaged toes show from beneath the hem of the habit. Yet the head is of expert work and is in good condition. The saint has a five-o'clock shadow and well-detailed curls. The face is realistic, and the skeletal structure of the hands and wrists is evident.

The saint was identified for us in 1991 in Teitipac as "San Nicolás" by Sr. Hilario Lopez. Similar santos are in Oaxaca in the villages of San Juan Guelavia and Santa María Zaachila.

More of St. Nicholas Factor

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