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 María de
la Natividad Zaachila: Christ
in a coffin |
Resurrected Christ |
Resurrected Christ: The upturned gaze seems more appropriate to the sorrowing St. John at the cross. The figure is on a hexagonal green wooden stand.
Basis for Identification: Vexillum
in the left hand, fingers of the raised right hand
formed for blessing. Nail wounds in the hands. Other characteristics: White robe, cincture, and cape. Site: Church of Santa María de la Natividad Zaachila. Location: Above the altar in the first bay of the north wall of the nave (see note). Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint, polyester garments. Eyes: glass, with lashes. Hair: wig. Parted lips show teeth. The vexillum is of wood painted silver. Size: About 5½ feet (165 cm.) Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Santa Ana del Valle, Cuilapan, Mitla, Teitipac, Teotitlán, Teposcolula, Yanhuitlán. External Links: Previous santo Introduction to Santa María Zaachila Note: On this site, references to the cardinal directions in a church 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.
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