New World, Spanish Colonial period, ca. 19th century CE. A tall wooden santo of a holy female figure, probably the Virgin Mary given her blue vestments, with haunting brown glass eyes and a large gold-hued tin crown with a cross finial atop her head. She has a silver necklace placed around her neck and wears small earrings made of wire and beads. A figure like this one probably once had full sewn-cloth clothing and possibly a veil. She stands on a green wooden base. Size: 7.45" L x 7.45" W x 23" H (18.9 cm x 18.9 cm x 58.4 cm)

Santos played an important role in bringing the Catholic Church to the New World with the Spanish colonists. These mannequin-style religious figures were hand-sculpted and often furnished with ornate religious clothing, usually funded by religious devotees, and were used as icons to explain the major figures - Mary, Christ, and the saints - in the religion to new, indigenous converts. Likewise, they served as a connection to the Old World for colonists far from home.

Provenance: From the Lilly and Francis Robiscek Collection of Religious Art, Charlotte, NC

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#119801

Surface wear commensurate with age with paint losses as shown and nicely aged patina; both arms which were carved separately and attached via wooden dowels show some signs of damage at the joints with the body; crown is re-attached and shows minor bending. The silver chain is was created later than the figure.