Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient Churches

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

 

In Teposcolula:

Angel 1
Angel 2
Bishops group (two bishops, one monk)
Christ: Ecce Homo
Christ fallen with the cross
Christ in a coffin
Christ in a crown (with crowned infant Christ)
Christ seated in the pretorium ("Pensive Christ")
Crucifix 1 (Calvary group)
Crucifix 2
Crucifix 3
Crucifix case (with Mary, the Magdalene, one other saint)
Crucifixes (two, with two unidentified saints)
Crucifixion Group
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad) 1
Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad) 2
Our Lady of the Rosary (with St. Dominic and a crucifix)
Palm Sunday Christ
Resurrected Christ
Sacred Heart of Jesus
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Isidore the Laborer
St. Mary Magdalene
St. Michael 1
St. Michael 2
St. Michael 3
St. Paul
St. Peter
St. Veronica
Saints Peter and Paul (?)
Unidentified Dominican
Unidentified female saint 1
Unidentified female (?) saint 2
Unidentified Franciscan
Unidentified monk 1
Unidentified monk 2
Unidentified monk 3
Unidentified monk 4
Unidentified priest 1
Unidentified priest 2
Unidentified saint 1
Unidentified saint 2
Unidentified saint 3
Unidentified saint 4
Unidentified saints (two in a cell)
Unidentified saints (three in a cell)
Virgin Mary

Local Name: Santo Domingo.

Basis for Identification: Star in forehead. Dominican habit with rosary, halo, tonsure.

Site: Church of San Pedro y San Pablo, Teposcolula.

Location: At the lower left (obscured by wooden edge of case) of a glass case at the center of the retablo at the south end of the south transept (see note).

Media and construction: Polychrome.

Size: About 2½ feet (75 cm.)

Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Teotitlán (St. Peter?), Yanhuitlán (Church) 1, Yanhuitlán (Church) 2, Yanhuitlán (Museum).

Local Name: El Señor de la Misericordia.

Location: Leaning against the case.

Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint.

Size: About 3 feet (90 cm.)

Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Santa Ana del Valle1, Santa Ana del Valle2, Santa Ana del Valle3, Cuilapan, Etla, Guelavia, Mitla, Nochixtlán, Tamazulapan1, Tamazulapan2, Teitipac1, Teitipac2, Teitipac3, Teitipac Our Lady of the Rosary, Teotitlán1, Teotitlán2, Teposcolula1, Teposcolula2, Teposcolula Convento1, Teposcolula Convento2, Tilantongo1, Tilantongo2, Tlacolula1, Tlacolula2, Xoxocotlán1, Xoxocotlán2, Xoxocotlán3, Xoxocotlán4, Yanhuitlán1, Yanhuitlán2, Yanhuitlán Convento1, Yanhuitlán Convento2, Yanhuitlán Convento3, Yanhuitlán Convento4, Yanhuitlán Convento5, Yanhuitlán Ayuxi Chapel, Zimatlán.

Basis for Identification: Brown habit with cowl.

Location: Not seen in the above photograph, the statue is in the rear right of the case.

Media and construction: Polychrome?

Size: About 2½ feet (75 cm.)

Comparable Francis of Assisi santos in Oaxaca: Ejutla, Teotitlán.

External Links possibly relevant:
Wikimedia Commons: Statues of Francis of Assisi in Mexico
Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Francis of Assisi
Wikipedia: Francis of Assisi
Christian Iconography: St. Francis of Assisi

Local Name: La Virgen del Rosario

Basis for Identification: Rosary in the Virgin's right hand, crowns on both figures. The Virgin is in a blue mantle and stands on a horned moon supported by an angel's face.

Location: Center of the case.

Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint, fabric garments, metal crowns. Eyes: glass. Hair: wig on Virgin; Child is bald. Closed mouth.

Size: About 5 feet (150 cm.)

Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Coixtlahuaca, Cuilapan, Teitipac1, Teitipac2,
Teotitlán, Xoxocotlán.

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. Some churches are shaped like a cross; the "arms" of the cross constitute the transept.