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 Pablo Huitzo: Christ |
St. Paul |
Saint Paul:
The point of the sword rests on the floor and the saint holds it somewhat as one might a walking stick. The rolled paper scroll is held forth in the left hand, on the right index finger of which a golden ring has been placed. The saint is shown in middle age and has an ascetic, high-boned face and a full, oval beard. The garments are the same color as the unidentified saint at the left of the altar: white robe, red cape, gold cincture. The design on the cape is of appliquéd gold lamé, like the bib of the Carmen which is also in the sanctuary and may be from the same hand. The altar was designed to accommodate only this one statue. Local Name: San Pablo. Basis for Identification: Scroll, long Spanish sword, beard, halo. Other characteristics: Ring on index finger, white robe, red cape. Site: Church of San Pablo Huitzo. Location: Center of the main altar (see note). Media and construction: Wood,
gesso, paint, fabric garments, metal
halo and sword, paper scroll. Eyes:
glass. Size: About 5 feet (150 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Etla, Mitla1, Mitla2, Teposcolula1,
Teposcolula2. External Links: Next: Right
of the altar, a statue
of St. Peter Introduction to San Pablo Huitzo 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.
|