Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art

About this Work

Spanish colonialism brought Christianity to the American Southwest and used art as one of its main teaching tools when attempting to convert Native Americas. Saint Figures, or Santos Figures, such as this example from New Mexico have two main types: bultos, which are three-dimensional sculptures and retablos which are paintings of saints. Saint Figures were used in religious ceremonies, for teaching, and as devotional images in both churches and private chapels.

Objects such as this one were originally imported before the local community began to make them, usually from local wood and with a combination of imported and local paints. These artists were typically self-taught and would use their own preferences and cultural history to build upon the Spanish and Mexican practices that already existed.