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 Pablo Huitzo:

Christ
Christ at the Pillar
Christ Child
Christ Fallen with the Cross
Christ in a Coffin
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad)
Sacred Heart of Jesus
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Hyacinth
St. Isidore the Laborer
St. John the Baptist
St. John the Evangelist

St. Mary Magdalene
St. Michael the Archangel
St. Paul
St. Peter of Verona
St. Peter the Apostle
Unidentified female saint
Unidentified saint
Virgin and Child

Other santos not photographed

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ:
The statue is placed above the Christ at the Pillar, and on the wall behind it is a painting of the crucifixion. We assume that this is a Christ, because of the face and the pointed beard. There are no wounds or other symbols to identify it. The hands are not held in benediction: both are at hip level, and the left hand is held forward palm-up with the middle finger extended.

Basis for Identification: Position on the altar, shape of beard.

Other characteristics: Youthful face, green robe, gold cape, white undertunic.

Site: Church of San Pablo Huitzo.

Location: An altar along the south wall of the nave (see note).

Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint, fabric garment. Eyes: glass. Hair: wig.

Size: Life size.

Next: Other santos not photographed

Previous santo

Introduction to San Pablo Huitzo

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.





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Introduction to Huitzo