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
Unidentified Saint
Unidentified saint:
The figure is highly dramatic, with lively, windblown folds in the clothing and the right hand raised as though in preaching. The statue is made of solid wood, and the folds at the bottom front show a deep crack. Only two teeth are left in the mouth. The fingers of the right hand are badly decomposed. The paint is new, highlighted with gilt. Some paint is chipping, and gesso can be seen beneath. Paint is flaking from both hands.

Basis for Identification:
This could be St. Peter, because of the gray hair and beard, the balding head, and the simple robes and draped mantle characteristic of representations of biblical figures. But there are no keys. Because of the close similarity to the St. Luke statue nearby, it could also be one of the other evangelists.

Site: Church of San Pedro y San Pablo Etla.

Location: In the courtyard of the former convento.

Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint. Eyes: glass. Individual teeth; 5'6".

Size: About 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm.)

Next: Also in the former convento, a statue of St. Peter of Verona

Previous santo

Introduction to San Pedro y San Pablo Etla

Santos Home Page

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.