Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient ChurchesA study of santos in 16th-century and other churches in Oaxaca, Mexico
By Claire and Richard Stracke Funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. In Santa Ana del Valle: Candelaria |
St. Anne |
Saint Anne:
The Anne figure is painted with golden 6-petaled flowers, but the front of the robe has not been finished. The mantle is painted with large arabesques of flowers and leaves. It is as delicate as work in stiffened cloth, but Sr. Aquino Cruz informs us that the entire ensemble is wood. The Mary figure wears a red robe and a blue mantle edged in gold; there is no pattern on either robe or mantle. On the front edge of the mantle is a chip that reveals the wood beneath. The child is in white. Local Name: Santa Ana. Basis for Identification: This
arrangement of the figures of Anne and her progeny is
known to art historians as Anna
Selbdritt. Site: Church of Santa Ana del Valle. Location: Right end of the retablo of the main altar. Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint. Comparable santos in Oaxaca: We
found no other Anna
Selbdritt compositions in Oaxaca. Statues of
St. Anne alone: Santa Ana 1,
Santa Ana 3, and possibly Teotitlán. External Links: Next:
Turning now to the south side of the nave, we first
encounter an altar with a statue
of St. Anne holding the child Mary. |