Other Santos at El Tule
Saint Joseph and the Christ Child
The crenelated collar of the tunic, the
crenelated sleeves and the buttons of the waistcoat
are in the style of some of the earliest polychromes
in Yanhuitlán and in Cuilapan. The upper
garments suggest a working man, perhaps someone such
as San Isidro, though the coarse effect may be the
result of the thick repainting. Such tunics, painted
in rich polychrome, are worn by statues of elegant
young men in Yanhuitlán.
The mantle draped around the lower boy and caught at
the waist implies that the figure is a Biblical
character. The saint carries the Christ Child, but no
lilies.
The chipped gesso and paint reveal a carved wooden
nose. Both statues have been repainted.
Local Name: San José.
Basis for Identification: Bearded
saint holding a child in the left arm.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: Along
the north wall of the narthex, on a low altar. On a
carved polychromated circular stand (see note).
Media and construction: Wood,
gesso, paint. Child: wood, gesso, paint. Eyes: painted.
Hair: wig.
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla,
Santa Ana del Valle,
Cuilapan1, Cuilapan2,
Mitla1, Mitla2, Ocotlán, Díaz
Ordaz, Teitipac,
Teotitlán,
Zimatlán.
External Links:
Wikimedia Commons:
Statues
of Saint Joseph in Mexico
Catholic Encyclopedia: St.
Joseph
Wikipedia: Saint
Joseph
Christian Iconography: Saint
Joseph, Father of Jesus
Palm Sunday Christ
The figure of Christ seems
separable and could be of a different period, though
it fits the ass's shape perfectly. The ass has been
repainted several times.
Basis for Identification: Riding
on an ass.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: Between
the third and fourth columns of the retablo of the long
table centered along the south wall of the nave
(see note).
Media and construction: Painted
wood, rope harness.
Size: About 2 feet (60 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Santa Ana del
Valle, Cuilapan,
Mitla, Ocotlán, Díaz
Ordaz, Tamazulapan,
Teitipac,
Teotitlán,
Teposcolula,
Tlacolula,
Yanhuitlán.
External Link:
Metropolitan Museum Art: Palmesel
Ecce Homo
The statue is roughly carved
and has been clumsily repainted. The arms are
awkwardly angled beneath the sleeves. The crown of
thorns is in the basketweave pattern. Blood streams
from it. The toes and fingertips are bruised and
bloody. A gold sash ties the hands, but not together.
Local Name: El Santo
Nazareño.
Basis for Identification: Purple
robe with gold fringe, crown of thorns, hands tied at
wrists.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: At the
far left on the long table centered along the south wall
of the nave (see note).
Media and construction: Fabric
garments. Eyes: glass, with lashes.
Hair: wig.
Size: About 4½
feet (135 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Ejutla,
Etla (in the Soldedad
Group), Etla2,
Mitla, Santa Ana del
Valle, Tamazulapan,
Teitipac1,
Teitipac2,
Teitipac3,
Teotitlán,
Teposcolula,
Tilantongo,
Tlacolula,
Xoxocotlán.
External Links:
The episode of the
purple robe is in John
19:1-5.
Wikimedia Commons: Statues of Ecce
Homo.
Crucifix
There is long, carved hair under the wig, and though
the teeth are not individual, the open mouth reveals a
separate tongue. The too-long toes seem to have been
repaired and are badly repainted. The back of the
right thigh has been patched. The wood or composition
material is very dark.
Local Name: El Señor
de la Misericordia.
Basis for Identification: Purple
loincloth with purple scutum.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: In a glass
case left of the retablo of the long table along the
south wall of the nave (see note).
Media and construction: Stained
wood, fabric loincloth and scutum over carved loincloth.
Size: About 3 feet (90 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla,
Santa Ana del
Valle1, Santa
Ana del Valle2, Santa Ana del
Valle3, Cuilapan,
Etla, Guelavia,
Mitla, Nochixtlán,
Tamazulapan1,
Tamazulapan2,
Teitipac1,
Teitipac2,
Teitipac3,
Teitipac Our
Lady of the Rosary, Teotitlán1, Teotitlán2, Teposcolula1,
Teposcolula2,
Teposcolula3
(in Rosary case), Teposcolula
Convento1, Teposcolula
Convento2, Tilantongo1,
Tilantongo2,
Tlacolula1, Tlacolula2,
Xoxocotlán1, Xoxocotlán2, Xoxocotlán3, Xoxocotlán4, Yanhuitlán1, Yanhuitlán2, Yanhuitlán
Convento1, Yanhuitlán
Convento2, Yanhuitlán
Convento3, Yanhuitlán
Convento4, Yanhuitlán
Convento5, Yanhuitlán Ayuxi Chapel, Zimatlán.
External Links:
Wikimedia Commons:
Crucifixes
in
Mexico
Catholic Encyclopedia: Archaeology
of the Cross and Crucifix
Wikipedia: Crucifix
Christian Iconography: The
Crucifixion
Our Lady of the Rosary
The statue does not have the look of wood, nor
of gesso and cloth. The sleeves blend into the arms as
with plaster statues. But if it is plaster it must be
early or unusual, because it lacks the normally
powdery look of plaster surfaces. It has been
repainted several times, and at the neck one can see
paint bubbles and places where paint has flaked away.
The Christ Child has one necklace; the Virgin, two.
Local Name: La Virgen del Rosario.
Basis for Identification: Holding
a bouquet in the right hand and the Christ child on the
left; child holds two rosaries.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: Left of
the retablo of the long table along the south wall of
the nave (see note).
Media and construction: Plaster?
Size: About 3½
feet (105 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla,
Coixtlahuaca,
Cuilapan,
Teitipac1,
Teitipac2,
Teotitlán, Teposcolula,
Xoxocotlán.
External Links:
Wikimedia Commons:
Statues
of
Our Lady of the Rosary in Mexico
Wikipedia: Our
Lady of the Rosary
Christian Iconography: Our
Lady
of the Rosary
Resurrected Christ
Clad only in a loincloth. Set
in a niche above the Assumption. A carving of the
crescent moon is at his right. The sun is gone from
the left side.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: Atop the
third of the four columns of the main retablo, hidden by
flowers.
Size: About 2 feet (60 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla,
Santa Ana del
Valle, Cuilapan,
Mitla, Teitipac,
Teotitlán, Teposcolula, Yanhuitlán, Zaachila.
External Links:
Wikimedia Commons:
Statues
of
Resurrection of Christ in Mexico
Catholic Encyclopedia: Resurrection
of Jesus Christ
Wikipedia: Resurrection
of
Jesus
Christian Iconography: The
Resurrection
Our
Lady of the Assumption I
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: In a glass
case, center of an altar in the south wall of the nave,
just past the narthex (see note).
Media and construction: Plaster. Eyes:
glass.
Size: About 2½
feet (75 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Coixtlahuaca,
Ejutla1, Ejutla2, Mitla1, Mitla2, Teitipac,
Tlacolula,
possibly Tlaxiaco,
Tule.
External Links:
Wikimedia Commons:
Statues
of the Assumption of Mary in Mexico
Wikipedia: Assumption
of Mary
Christian Iconography: The
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Saint Anthony of Padua
Local Name: San Antonio de Padua.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: Left of
the Assumption santo described above.
Media and construction: Eyes:
glass.
Size: About 3 feet (90 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Coixtlahuaca,
Etla, Huitzo, Mitla, Tamazulapan,
Teitipac,
Teposcolula, Tlacolula.
External Links:
Wikimedia Commons: Statues
of
Saint Anthony of Padua in México
Catholic Encyclopedia: St.
Anthony of Padua
Wikipedia: Anthony
of Padua
Christian Iconography: Saint
Anthony
of Padua
Virgin Mary
Basis for Identification: Full
crown and sunburst halo.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: Between
the first and second columns of the retablo of the long
table centered along the south wall of the nave
(see note).
Media and construction: Wood,
gesso, paint, fabric garments,
metal crowns. Eyes: glass. Hair: wig.
Size: About 2 feet (60 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla,
Etla1 (in the
Soledad group) Etla2, Guelavia1,
Guelavia2,
Nochixtlán,
Ocotlán, Teotitlán, Teotitlán2, Tilantongo1,
Tilantongo2,
Yanhuitlán1, Yanhuitlán2, Zimatlán.
External Link:
Wikimedia Commons:
Statues
of
Virgin Mary in Mexico.
Our Lady of the Assumption
II
Basis for Identification: Gold-colored
crescent moon at the base of the garments, two angels
holding a rainbow shape over the head; full crown.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: In a glass
case left of the retablo on the long table centered
along the south wall of the nave (see note).
Media and construction: Wood,
gesso, paint, fabric garments.
Size: 10 inches (25 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca and
External Links: See Our Lady of
the Assumption I above.
Saint John the Baptist
Clad only in a sash and brown loincloth.
Local Name: San Juan Bautista.
Site: Church of the
Assumption, El Tule.
Location: Atop the
second of the four columns of the main retablo.
Size: About 2 feet (60 cm.)
Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla,
Coixtlahuaca,
Huitzo,
Mitla,
Tamazulapan,
Tamazulapan (as child), Teitipac,
Teitipac
(Beheading), Teitipac
(San Juanito), Teotitlán,
Zimatlán.
External Links:
Wikimedia Commons:
Statues
of
St. John the Baptist in Mexico
Catholic Encyclopedia: St.
John the Baptist
Wikipedia: John
the Baptist
Christian Iconography: St.
John
the Baptist, Prophet and Martyr
Previous
santo
Introduction
to El Tule
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.
|
