New World, Spanish Colonial, Mexico, ca. 19th century CE. A striking hand-carved and skillfully painted wood santo figure of St. Anthony of Padua, standing with the Christ Child seated on a holy book in one hand and holding a tin lily stalk in the other to represent his purity. He stands atop a brightly painted, rounded platform. Size: 6" L x 10" W x 23" H (15.2 cm x 25.4 cm x 58.4 cm)

The saint's robes are deep blue, with dark-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 blue eyes. A set of rosary beads 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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#120460

Fine craquelure, especially on baby. Some losses to paint and overpainting, especially on the pedestal, as shown. Wax in areas used for attaching accessories.