Early 19th C. Mexican Wood Santo - San Roque

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Fine Ethnographic / Asian / Ancient Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 10, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-05-10 10:00:00 2018-05-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Ethnographic / Asian / Ancient Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-ethnographic-asian-ancient-art-3213
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• Lot Description
  New World, Spanish Colonial style, Mexico, ca. early 19th century CE. An interesting carved wood santo depicting Saint Roch (San Roque), the patron saint of dogs, here shown with a charming dog at his feet (a 20th century addition, probably replacing an older carving of a dog), drawing back his robe to reveal a plague wound. The saint's face is sensitively rendered, his clothing finely sculpted and painted, and he holds a crook in one hand and wears a repousse halo. Size: 12" L x 15" W x 26" H (30.5 cm x 38.1 cm x 66 cm)
  
  Saint Roch, also known as Saint Rocco, was born in France sometime in the 14th century. Notably pious from birth, he distributed all his worldly goods at the age of twenty and embarked upon a pilgrimage to Rome. In Italy, he tended to the sick during a plague epidemic. Falling ill with the plague, he was expelled from the town and went to live in the forest, where he was miraculously able to find water and a dog brought him bread. The dog depicted here represents that story.
  
  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.
  
  Provenance: ex private Francis & Lilly Robicsek Collection, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
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  #120716

  Condition

  Craquelure and small areas of loss to the paint as shown. Traces of wax to stabilize accessories. Some areas of overpainting. Both arms have been repaired. Cracks on wood surface commensurate with age, mainly around the base/feet. Dog is newer (20th c.) than the rest of the carving. The lower part of the base is also newer.
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