Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient Churches

A 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
Crucifix
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad)
Sacred Heart of Jesus
St. Isidore the Laborer
St. John the Baptist
Virgin Mary

Other santos not photographed

Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad)

Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad):
The greenish tint to the skin suggests that the paint was applied in the 16th century.

Local Name: Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.

Basis for Identification: Triangular arrangement with mantle reaching from the top of the head almost to the feet, lily in hand.

Other characteristics: Matching robe and mantle in green/black brocade on off-white.

Site: Church of San Lorenzo Zimatlán.

Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Santa Ana del Valle, Coixtlahuaca, Cuilapan, Ejutla, Etla, Huitzo, Mitla, Teotitlán, Teposcolula1, Teposcolula2, Tilantongo, Xoxocotlán, Yanhuitlán, Zimatlán.

External Link:
Wikimedia Commons: Statues of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

Next: A crucifix

Previous santo

Introduction to San Lorenzo Zimatlán

Santos Home Page

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.