New World, Spanish Colonial, Mexico, early 19th century CE. A tall and well-loved wooden santo with a very kind face, depicting St. Anthony of Padua. In one hand, he holds a book with the Christ Child seated atop it; in the other he holds a lily stalk, representing his purity. He stands atop a tall, tiered wooden pedestal that is shaped like a book lying on its side. Size: 5" L x 5.75" W x 17.75" H (12.7 cm x 14.6 cm x 45.1 cm)

The saint's robes are pale green, with gold-painted details and a white-painted rope with three knots in the traditional Franciscan style representing poverty, chastity, and obedience; he also has a gold-painted tin halo. His face is sensitively rendered, with brown glass eyes. A silver crucifix on a silver chain has been placed around his neck by a worshipper.

St. Anthony was a Portuguese Franciscan priest and friar who died in Padua, Italy. Despite being born into a wealthy family, he was known for his intense devotion to the poor and sick, and holds the distinction of being canonized most quickly of all the saints. He is also known as the patron saint of lost things - objects, people, and souls. In art, he is often depicted with a book and the infant Jesus, based on a commonly told story of him reading a book and seeing the Christ Child's image in it.

Santos played an important role in bringing the Catholic Church to the New World with the Spanish colonists. These religious figures were hand-carved and often furnished with crowns, jewels, and other accessories, usually funded by religious devotees, and were used as icons to explain the major figures - Mary, Christ, and the saints - to new, indigenous converts. Likewise, they served as a connection to the Old World for Spanish colonists far from home. They became a folk art tradition in the Spanish New World, from modern day Guatemala to as far north as New Mexico and Colorado. Many of them were lovingly cared for over the years, with repairs and paint added as they aged, and played an active part for a long time in the religious life of their communities.



Provenance: Ex-Francis & Lilly Robicsek Collection, Charlotte, NC

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#120591

Nice craquelure and small areas of loss to the paint as shown. Traces of wax to stabilize accessories. Some areas of overpainting.