La Muertecita
Skeleton on a cart with wheels.
Señor Ventura
told us that La
Muertecita is the "Queen of all" and "Queen of
Heaven." She represents the power of death and at the
same time the Resurrection. She is carried through the
streets every year on her feast day, but he did not
specify the day. On that day, the archangels (described
below) are also carried. Since the archangels are known
as "Los Siete Principes" (cf. the Convento de los Siete
Principes in Oaxaca City) who serve Mary, the
"Muertecita's" rank as queen may come through
association.
Crucifix
6
The hands and the big toes of both feet are
missing.
Local Name: El Señor de la
Misericordia.
Basis for Identification: Crucifix,
face looking upward.
Media and construction: Wood
and cloth, gesso, paint, carved loincloth beneath fabric
loincloth. Hair: sculpted.
Size: About 7½ feet (230 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
Unidentified Saint 1
Wearing a gilt crown that looks as if it might
have been a support. Crudely
repainted. The right arm is missing.
Media and construction: Polychrome,
stiffened cloth. Eyes: glass.
Size: 48 inches (122 cm.)
Unidentified Saint 2
The statue has greatly deteriorated. The left
foot and the thumb and fingers of the left hand are
missing. Wood shows right through at the fingers and
at the breast.
Media and construction: Polychrome,
stiffened cloth. Eyes: holes for glass eyes.
Size: 36 inches (91 cm.)
Crucifix 7
Crucifix with a veronica
where the cross-pieces meet. Several features of this
crucifix testify to its intended use for processions and
the attendant narratives. It is made of cane. The
veronica and a break in the wood for the lance hole seem
particularly suitable for narrative purposes. The figure
is unusually bloody.
Media and construction: Cane, gesso,
paint, fabric loincloth. Eyes: painted.
Hair: sculpted.
Size: About 8 feet (245 cm.)
Comparable santos, External links: see Crucifix 6, above.
Archangel with
Three Cherubs
Repainted green and red. The
archangel stands on a cloud in which are three
cherubs in low relief. The face of the angel on
the right has completely deteriorated. The figures
are placed on a new andas.
Size: 57 inches (145 cm.)
Archangel
2
The boots and gown have a
floral pattern. Some of the clothing is stiffened cloth,
some is part of the wood. There are three wing-supports,
two large and one small. Old wing holes have been plugged.
The cheeks are ruddy. The cape around the hips is red with
gold flowers. The statue stands on an andas
(not the original).
Basis for Identification: Military
boots, supports for wings; tunic with blue and red
flowers and green leaves.
Media and construction: Polychrome.
Eyes: glass, with painted lashes. Sculpted teeth.
Size: 57 inches (145 cm.)
Archangel 3
The right knee is cracked.
Another crack runs down the left side of the tunic. The
left arm has been stuck back on. The figure is bald and
stands on a "wind" pedestal. The tunic is red with blue
flowers. The skirt is green with red and blue flowers and
gold petals. The boots are decorated in a pattern of
diamond shapes.
Basis for Identification: Military boots and
tunic, wing supports.
Other characteristics: Green robe with red flowers and
gold petals.
Media and construction: Polychrome,
stiffened cloth. Eyes: glass. Sculpted teeth.
Size: 62 inches (157 cm.) including pedestal.
Archangel 5
Mostly gold clothing. Hole in
the elbow. The bottom of the skirt has been chipped off in
front and repainted in brown. The tassels in the back are
broken off. The pinkie and ring finger of the left hand
are missing. There are cracks in the arms, fingers, and
neck, and a crack runs down the lower portion of the tunic
on the left side.
Basis for Identification: Blue
military boots repainted over gold. Gold tunic.
Media and construction: Wood, gesso,
paint, stiffened cloth. Eyes: painted eyes, formerly had
eyelashes. Sculpted teeth.
Size: 56.5 inches (143.5 cm.)
Archangel 6
The right and left portions of
the robe, as well as the collar and some of the area
around the sleeves, have been partially repainted. The
weave of the stiffened cloth can easily be seen through
the now deteriorated polychrome, which has a red
background with blue flowers and gold petals. The
underside of the robe is not painted. The front of the
skirt is broken off almost entirely. A crack shows at the
right elbow. The figure stands on its original andas.
Basis for Identification: Red and
blue military boots.
Media and construction: Polychrome,
stiffened cloth. Eyes: glass, with lashes. Closed mouth.
Size: 62 inches (157 cm.)
Archangel 7
The statue is bald and has lost part of the
right ring finger, the tip of the right middle finger,
and the pinkie and ring finger of the left hand. The
right thumb has been repaired. The paint is badly
chipped and peeling. The left cheek is chipped. The
boots are polychrome. The garments have red flowers
and green petals on a gold background.
Basis for Identification: Gold
military boots.
Media and construction: Polychrome,
stiffened cloth. Eyes: glass, with lashes. Closed mouth.
Size: 62 inches (157 cm.)
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Introduction to the museum
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