Lot 83
New World, Spanish Colonial, Mexico, ca. 19th century CE. A pensive wooden santo of the Virgin Mary in a prayerful posture, standing atop a cloud with cherubim and a crescent moon. The figure combines the idea of her in glory, worshipped by angels, with the symbolism of the crescent moon. Size: 6" L x 6" W x 17.5" H (15.2 cm x 15.2 cm x 44.4 cm)
Mary wears a cream-colored dress with gold ornamentation and a blue and red cloak. She has a gold-painted tin crown and stands on a tiered, rounded pedestal. A worshipper has placed a cross on a silver chain around her neck.
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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#120446
- Condition: Areas of nice craquelure on the dress and face. Losses to paint as shown. Repair to crescent moon and to hands.
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