Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient Churches

A study of santos in 16th-century and other churches in Oaxaca, Mexico

In San Juan Teitipac:

Christ carrying the Cross
Christ: Ecce Homo (1)
Christ: Ecce Homo (2)
Christ in a coffin
Christ in the Pretorium ("Pensive Christ") 1
Christ in the Pretorium ("Pensive Christ") 2
Christ resurrected
Crucifix (1)
Crucifix (2)
Crucifix (3)
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Our Lady of Candlemas
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad)
Our Lady of the Assumption
Our Lady of the Rosary (1)
Our Lady of the Rosary (2)
Palm Sunday Christ
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Benedict
St. Hyacinth
St. Isidore the Laborer
St. John the Baptist (1)
St. John the Baptist (2)
St. John the Baptist, head of
St. Joseph
St. Nicholas Factor
St. Peter Avril
St. Peter the Apostle (1)
St. Peter the Apostle (2)
St. Simon Stock
Trinity
Unidentified saint

Other santos not photographed

Saint Nicholas Factor:
The right hand is raised in benediction. The skull, badly chipped and decomposed, is tied to the left hand, which is in a sling. Somewhat damaged toes show from beneath the hem of the habit. Yet the head is of expert work and is in good condition. The saint has a five o'clock shadow and well-detailed curls. The face is realistic, and the skeletal structure of the hands and wrists is evident.

Local Name: San Nicolás.

Basis for Identification: The saint was identified by Sr. Lopez. Tonsure, skull in left hand, white cord as a cincture.

Other characteristics: Purple habit.

Site: Church of San Juan Teitipac.

Location: A gilt niche in the north wall of the nave (see note).

Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint, polyester habit. Eyes: painted.

Size: About 3 feet (90 cm.)

Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Díaz Ordaz (no photograph), Guelavia, Yanhuitlán (in Dominic group), Zaachila1, Zaachila2.

External Links:
Wikimedia Commons: Statues of Saint Nicholas Factor in Mexico
SQPN: Saint Nicholas Factor
TheRealPresence.Org: Blessed Nicholas Factor
Wikipedia: Nicolás Factor
Christian Iconography: Saint Nicholas Factor

Next: Also along the north wall, a Palm Sunday Christ

Previous santo

Introduction to San Juan Teitipac

Santos Home Page

Note: On this site, references to the cardinal directions always assume that the main altar is at the east end of the church, the narthex or entry area at the west end, and the two walls of the nave on the north and south. (The nave is the long central section.) Actual orientations may differ.

The photo shown here is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. You are free to share or remix it on two conditions: first, that you attribute it to the photographers, Claire and Richard Stracke, without implying any approval of your work on their part; second, that if you alter, transform, or build upon this photo, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.