A Spanish Colonial Santos Figural of a Saint Tending the Afflicted

circa 1800, possibly South American, carved wood and glass eyes, gesso with polychrome and gilt, likely depicting Saint Peter Claver (Spanish, 1580-1684) dressed in black and gilt robes, his forehead with crown of thorns wound, holding open the robe of a suffering individual, unsigned.
12 5/8 x 6 1/2 x 2 3/4 in.
Born in the Catalan village of Verdú, Peter Claver dedicated his life's ministry to the nursing of the sick, diseased and tortured thousands of enslaved Africans who arrived in the Columbian port city of Cartagena during a time of New World colonization. He also frequented two hospitals in Cartagena, St. Sebastian’s hospital for general cases, and St. Lazarus for lepers and diseased individuals. Claver wore a cloak, and a legend arose that whoever wore the cloak received lifetime health and was cured of all disease.
Claver was also known to continuously use self-penitential instruments including pressing a crown of thorns to his head. He was canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII, and in 1896 was declared the patron of missionary work among all African peoples.
From the Collection of the late Keith Stanley, Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies at Duke University, North Carolina
Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.lelandlittle.com

Some scattered areas of paint and gilt loss; some hairlines at saint figure's face; mounting hole to the posterior of saint's head indicates the sculpture once had a nimbus.