New World, Spanish Colonial, Mexico, ca. 19th century CE. A striking, hand-carved wood santo of a standing Virgin Mary. Worshippers have placed a wooden cross on a chain around her body and given her cloth roses to hold in her clasped hands. Her face is kind, with brown glass eyes. She wears robes of deep green, blue, and red, with gold trim and stars on them; she stands atop a blue cloud with four cherubic faces gazing outward from atop a large tiered pedestal. Size: 6.5" L x 7.75" W x 21.5" H (16.5 cm x 19.7 cm x 54.6 cm)

Mary's blue robe here is particularly visually striking. Blue is a color often associated with the Holy Mother because of its connotations of sky, peace, and royalty. The stars symbolize her place in the celestial realm.

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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#120601

Fine craquelure on the face and hands, as well as on angels' faces below the central figure's feet. Small areas of loss to paint as shown, especially on the pedestal. Some areas of overpainting. Traces of wax to stabilize accessories.