Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient Churches

A 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 Pedro y San Pablo Etla:

Angel
Christ at the pillar
Christ: Ecce Homo
Christ fallen under the cross
Christ in the pretorium
Crucifix
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Luke
St. Paul
St. Peter the Apostle
St. Peter of Verona (Peter Martyr)
Soledad group
Unidentified saint (1)
Unidentified saint (2)
Unidentified saint (3)
Virgin Mary

Other santos not photographed
St. Peter the Apostle
Saint Peter the Apostle:
The keys are of recent construction, as is the cross, which has been tied to the right hand. The figure looks heavenward, with the head tilted to the right, and the hands are raised palm-up in prayer.

Local Name: San Pedro Apóstol

Basis for Identification: Keys, triple cross, balding.

Other characteristics: Blue robe, gold cape.

Site: Church of San Pedro y San Pablo Etla.

Location: Left niche in the main altar (see note).

Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint, fabric garments, modern shoes. Eyes: glass. Hair: carved. Sculpted teeth.

Size: About 5½ inches (168 cm.)

Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Coixtlahuaca, Huitzo, Mitla, Díaz Ordaz, Tamazulapan, Teitipac1, Teitipac2, Teotitlán1, Teotitlán2, Teposcolula1, Teposcolula2, Yanhuitlán.

External Links:
Wikimedia Commons: Statues of St. Peter in Mexico.
Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles.
Wikipedia: Saint Peter.
Christian Iconography: Saint Peter the Apostle.

Next: In a chapel off the south transept, a statue of the Ecce Homo

Previous santo

Introduction to San Pedro y San Pablo Etla

Santos Home Page

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 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. You are free to share or remix it on two conditions: first, that you attribute it to the photographers, Claire and Richard Stracke, without implying any approval of your work on their part; second, that if you alter, transform, or build upon this photo, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.