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 San Lorenzo
Zimatlán: Christ
carrying the Cross |
Christ
Fallen with the Cross |
Christ fallen with
the Cross: The figure wears a robe of purple/lavender brocade, no clothing underneath. The right hand rests on velvet-covered cushions; its fingers have lost some of their gesso and paint, apparently from being rubbed by the devout. Raised veins show on the left hand, which has painted-on blood and scrapes; several amulets have been hung from this hand. The face is rather dark. Blood flows copiously from a lesion on the left cheek and from the crown of thorns.
Basis for Identification: Cross,
crown of thorns in basketweave pattern, blood and
lesions. Site: Church of San Lorenzo Zimatlán. Location: In the baptistery. Media and construction: The legs are
wood, painted and gessoed. Eyes: glass, with lashes
(none missing). Hair: new wig. Sculpted teeth. Beard and
mustache: finely carved. Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Coixtlahuaca, Etla, Guelavia, Huitzo, Teposcolula. External Links: 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. |