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
San Miguel Ejutla: |
Our Lady of Sorrows
(Soledad) |
Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad): The face is unusually long, with a long, aquiline nose, slightly bulbous eyes and an exaggerated lower lip. The eyebrows are dark. The skin is lighter than usual in Soledad figures. We assume that her arms are movable because they are tied together at the hands and hang from a black cord looped around the neck. On a black velvet cloth hanging behind the Virgin are eleven rows of silver amulets representing praying figures. Local Name: Nuestra Señora de
la Soledad. Basis for Identification: Virgin in golden crown wearing a black and silver mantle that reaches from the top of the head nearly to the floor, hands together as in prayer. Other characteristics: Heart-shaped
frame around the wimple. Site: Church of San Miguel Ejutla. Location: Centered on an altar along the north wall of the nave, in a glass case (see note). Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint, fabric clothing, metal crown and wimple frame. Eyes: glass. Size: Life size. Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Santa Ana del Valle, Coixtlahuaca, Cuilapan, Etla, Huitzo, Mitla, Teotitlán, Teposcolula1, Teposcolula2, Tilantongo, Xoxocotlán, Yanhuitlán, Zimatlán. External Links: Next: On
the same altar, a statue of
St. John the Evangelist. Introduction to San Miguel Ejutla 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. The photo shown here is licensed under the
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