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New World, Spanish Colonial period or later, Mexico, ca. 19th century CE. A wooden santo with glass eyes depicting St. Anthony of Padua. In one hand, he holds a book with the Christ Child seated atop it; in the other he holds a repousse silver flag topped with a cross (this may be a later addition by a worshipper, as he is often seen with a lily stalk in that hand to represent his purity). He stands atop a tiered wooden pedestal painted to look like marble. He wears the traditional Franciscan attire of a brown robe with a long rope belt with three knots in it, symbolizing poverty, chastity, and obedience. A worshipper has also placed a rosary around the saint’s body. Size: 6.5″ L x 7″ W x 19.75″ H (16.5 cm x 17.8 cm x 50.2 cm)
St. Anthony was a Portuguese Franciscan priest and friar who died in Padua, Italy. Despite being born into a wealthy family, he was known for his intense devotion to the poor and sick, and holds the distinction of being canonized most quickly of all the saints. He is also known as the patron saint of lost things – objects, people, and souls. In art, he is often depicted with a book and the infant Jesus, based on a commonly told story of him reading a book and seeing the Christ Child’s image in it.
Santos played an important role in bringing the Catholic Church to the New World with the Spanish colonists. These religious figures were hand-carved and often furnished with crowns, jewels, and other accessories, usually funded by religious devotees, and were used as icons to explain the major figures – Mary, Christ, and the saints – to new, indigenous converts. Likewise, they served as a connection to the Old World for Spanish colonists far from home. They became a folk art tradition in the Spanish New World, from modern day Guatemala to as far north as New Mexico and Colorado. Many of them were lovingly cared for over the years, with repairs and paint added as they aged, and played an active part for a long time in the religious life of their communities.
Condition: Losses to the fingers, and the hands have been reattached/repaired. Christ figure has also been repaired and has lost some of the fingers on one hand. Craquelure on painted surfaces, with overpainting in many areas as shown. Stand may not be contemporary with figure.
Provenance: private Francis and Lilly Robicsek Collection, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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