A Marian devotion that stresses her role as advocate and intercessor for humankind. Here she appears as the Queen of Heaven, holding the Christ child and pulling an impenitent soul out of the mouth of hell. An angel presents her son with a basket of penitent souls.
Depictions: 2002
A title of the Virgin Mary that refers to her immaculate conception. It is often confused with Christ's similar conception. The Catholic Church that th the Virgin Mary, too, was conceived without sin. Here Mary is often depicted as a child and stands on a cloud supported by angels or upon a serpent and a crescent-shaped moon. Her hands are most often clasped in prayer and sometimes she is crowned.
Depictions: 2000
In the colonial period, this advocation of the Virgin Mary was the patron saint of peninsular Spaniards (born in Spain but residing in the Americas). She holds a triple-crowned staff (vara de justicia or symbol of official rulership) and the Christ Child and is the patroness of good health.
The Virgin Mary, depicted in a bell-shaped gown holding the Christ Child in one arm and a rosary in her other hand. She is often represented crowned. This representation of the Virgin is often prayed to in times of death, when a rosary is customarily recited soon after the deceased has passed away. SHe is also used for the protection against evil and adversity.
Depictions: 1998
San Acacio was a second-century Roman general who converted to Christianity—along with his soldiers—and was crucified. He is depicted crucified, usually bearded and clad in eighteenth-century European military garb. His soldiers often stand at his sides with banners, guns and drums. He is associated with the military and is invoked against intruders.
A Portuguese-born Franciscan known for his great ability to preach and perform miracles. He trained under the direction of Saint Francis of Assisi. Usually clad in a blue or gray Franciscan habit and holding the Christ Child and a lily or palm branch. San Antonio is the patron saint of animals, the home and young girls looking for husbands. He is frequently invoked for finding lost objects.
Depictions: 1999
A legendary saint, Saint Barbara was imprisoned in a tower by her father when she refused to denounce her Christianity. Her father, consequently, was struck and killed by lightning. Images of Saint Barbara often include the tower of her captivity and a lightning bolt in the background. In the Hispanic world she is prayed to as a protector against lightning.
Depictions: 1998
The founder of the Franciscan order. He was the son of a wealthy Italian merchant who forfeited worldly life for a poor, spiritual one. San Francisco is normally clad in gray or blue Franciscan habit and holds a human skull—representation of human mortality—and a cross. He is the patron saint of animals, families and Christian virtues.
Depictions: 1993
One of the four primary fathers of the Church, Saint Jerome was a fifth-century hermit whose major contribution to Christianity was his translation of the Bible from Greek, Hebrew and Latin Vulgate. Though he lived many years as an ascetic, intellectual hermit, he was educated in Rome where he was the secretary of the pope. In some instances he is depicted as a bearded, bare-chested hermit standing on a lion (referencing a story in which Jerome removed a thorn from the paw of a lion and subsequently won a life-long companion in the grateful beast). In other instances, he is depicted in a red robe, holding a book and quill, which references his translation of the Bible.
An eight-century Benedictine hermit and abbot who impressed the French king with his impressive ascetic lifestyle and dedication to Christ. A popular story recounts Gil's association with deer—a loyal companion—who led the French king and his entourage to Gil. He is depicted either as a hermit or a bishop/abbot and stands next to a deer. In the background a church door or ladder references the monastery he founded.
Depictions: 2001
The founder of the Jesuit order, San Ignacio was a basque soldier before he became religious. He is depicted in a black cassock or chasuble and sometimes wears a biretta and holds a book with the inscription "IHS," the Latin acronym for the Society of Jesus. He is the patron saint against witchcraft and illness.
A Spanish farmer whose prayers delighted God so much that he was often sent an angel to do his work. He was married to Santa Maria de la Cabeza. Dressed in farmer's garb and a broad-brimed hat. In his normal iconography, he is depicted praying while an angel works his plow pulled by oxen. He is the patron saint of farmers and laborers, in general.
Depictions: 2000
Mary's husband and Christ's foster father. He is normally depicted in a green robe, yellow cape, carrying the Christ Child and a flowering staff. He is usually bearded and often wears a crown. Sometimes he is depicted with carpenter's tool, as he was a carpenter. He is the patron saint of fathers and carpenters and is invoked for a good death.
Depictions: 1993, 2001, 2002, 2002
San Juan Nepomuceno was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia. He was pushed off a bridge into a river where he drowned by her husband, the king, because he would not inform the king of the queen's confession. He is the protector of bridges and is invoked for making a good confession.
Depictions: 1995
The patron saint of parish priests, John Vianney was a nineteenth-century French priest whose qualities of simplicity, perseverance and unfettered faith won him sainthood. Although Vianney unsuccessfully attempted to become a priest on several occasions, his simplicity won the favor of his bishop and he was eventually accepted into the priesthood. Images of Vianney portray him as a cassock and confessional stoll as he was known for his talent at administering the sacrament of penance.
Depictions: 2001
One of the twelve apostles of Christ, Saint Jude (not to be confused with Judas), is the patron saint of lost causes. He wears a green cloak and white robe and holds a walking staff and a medallion imprinted with the profile of Christ.
Depictions: 2000
A legendary saint, Santa Librada's father, a king of Portugal, had her crucified for refusing to marry a suitor for his advantage. When her father pressured her to accept the proposal, she prayed to God and subsequently grew a beard to ward off suitors. She is always depicted crucified, and in some instances is shown with a beard.
Depictions: 1995
A Spanish deacon who was martyred on a gridiron for not renouncing Christianity. He is invoked against fire and has particular significance in New Mexico, where the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 took place on his feast day. In New Mexico, he is also the patron of crops during August.
This image portrays Christ's march to Calvary, the hill outside of Jerusalem where he was crucified. Around him, the Virgin Mary, Saint Veronica and Saint Longinus witness Christ's march.
Depictions: 1997
One of seven archangels, Michael is the defender of the righteous and the leader of the heavenly armies. In the Old Testament, Michael cast Lucifer and his followers out of heaven when they became disobedient to God. Images of the Apocalypse portray him weighing the value of souls; those that are righteous are admitted into heaven while impenitents are cast into hell with Satan.
Depictions: 1995, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003
A thirteenth century inhabitant of Viterbo, Italy, she was associated with the Guelphs (papal loyalists). She was known for her preaching and support of the Guelphs and was buried in a Franciscan convent, even though she was not of that order.
A sixteenth-century Spanish mystic, Santa Teresa was a reform leader of the Discalsed (barefoot) Carmelites. She wrote extensively on her mystical visions and ecstatic spiritual experiences. Depicted as a nun, she sometimes appears surrounded by angels and in the throes of spiritual ecstasy. Often, and book and quill appear in her hand of nearby.
Probably a legendary British princess who refused to marry a pagan prince. Upon fleeing Britain, she and eleven thousand virgins were slain at the hands of the pagan Huns. Ursula was martyred by an arrow, often shown piercing her breast in popular imagery. She also bears the palm of martyrdom.
Depictions: 2001
According to Spanish legend, Saint James the Apostle would appear on horseback as a leader of the Christian armies in the reconquest of Spain from the Moors. Because of his heavenly status, battles led by Saint James the Moor-slayer were invariably successful. In the Americas, Saint James was called upon by the Spaniards in the conquest of native peoples.
Clad as a pilgrim , Saint James the Pilgrim is an avocation of Saint James the Apostle. Popular Spanish legend describes Saint James' travels to Spain shortly after the death of Christ. He is credited for disseminating Christianity in the Iberian peninsula. His remains are said to be housed in Compostella, Spain where a popular Medieval church was erected in his honor. Compostella became the third most popular pilgrimage site in Christiandom, following Jerusalem and Rome.
The patron saint of Palermo, Sicily, Santa Rosalí was said to have saved the city from the plague many years after her death. She was reputedly a young girl from a good family and is depicted in a green, gray or brown robe and holds a palm and crucifix crucifix.
This image emphasizes the maternal qualities of the Virgin Mary as she is shown holding her son.
Depictions: 2002
The father of the Virgin Mary and the husband of Santa Ana (Saint Anne). He is depicted as an older man and holds the Virgin Mary, appearing as a small child. Like San José, he is associated with ideal fatherhood.
Depictions: 1999
A representation of the three divine persons (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) that constitute God as a being. The trinity is considered to be the most profound mystery of Christianity. Among New Mexican santos, the Trinity is most often depicted as three identical men belonging to one body. They often sit on a stylized globe representing the world. Another less-commonly depicted representation of the Trinity in New Mexico includes God the Father as an old man with a gray beard holding the crucified body of Christ. In these examples the Holy Spirit is represented as a white dove descending upon the Father and Son.
Depictions: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
A generalized representation of an unnamed angel whose divine function is to guard over the soul of a specific living person. The guardian angel is prayed to for general protection against evil and as an advocate before God. Usually these angels are portrayed holding a crown (to be rewarded to a penitent soul as a crown of life and salvation at the end of human life and the beginning of eternal life). In other images the angel holds the soul of the person to whom he/she is a guardian or a candle to light the way of righteousness for the living
Depictions: 2000
A colonial Mexican depiction of Christ in a tree that is about to be cut down by a surprised, ax-bearing Native American. Many Christian stories of miraculous images of Christ or the saints appearing in nature(trees, caves, the Earth, etc.) occur across cultures, geography and history. The most famous New Mexican story of a nature-themed santo is the miraculous discovery of a crucifix buried at the current site of the Santuario de Chimayó in Chimayó, New Mexico.
This image portrays the Christ Child meditating on his passion and death. Images of the crucifixion appear around Christ as visual reminders of what is to come. Blood streams out of his hands making reference to the saving blood of Christ.
Depictions: 2002
Judith is an Old Testament heroine who saved the Hebrews from the enemy Assyrian army by feigning to defect from the Hebrew camp. With her beauty, intelligence and false devotion to the Assyrians, she won the favor of the Assyrian general, Holofernes. After feasting with the Assyrian officers, Judith slew Holofernes, who had consumed too much wine. She and her maidservant escaped back that night to the Hebrew camp with the prize head of Holofernes and the next day the Jews attacked nd defeated the Assyrians.
Shortly after the conquest of the Incas, rebel Inca warriors besieged the now Spanish-occupied Inca capital, Cuzco. Although the Spanish and Inca occupants of the city warded off the rebel natives, native stories do not credit Spanish stealth or reference Spanish presence at all. Instead, these stories solely credit the saving power of Saint James and the Virgin Mary as the sources of the rebels' defeat. In this depiction, Saint James (the patron saint of Spain) is clad as an Inca warrior. He wears an Inca tunic and anklets. Text below the horse identifies the saint as Saint James, the defender of Cuzco.
The Virgin Mary after the crucifixion of her son. She is dressed in the black and white garments of a nun and is depicted with various instruments of Christ's passion upon which she meditates and mourns the death of her son.
The Franciscan coat of arms is comprised of the intercrossing arms of Christ and Saint Francis of Assisi before the image of a cross. In this version, the scene is expanded to include the full figures of Saint Francis and Christ. The cross is draped with a white cloth alluding to the resurrection of Christ.
The mother of humankind, Eve was the companion and wife of the first man, Adam. She is generally depicted nude with Adam and holding the apple from the tree of life that caused God to expel the couple from the Garden of Eden and blemish the pure nature of humankind with original sin.
Depictions: 2002
This work summarizes the Christian Cosmovision whose primary themes—the Fall of Man and the Redemption of Humankind through the suffering and death of Christ—are juxtaposed. At the bottom of the cross appear Adam Eve who have already eaten from the apple of the tree of life and have become ashamed of their nakedness. This event known in Christianity as the Fall of Man resulted in the state of original sin, into which all humans are born, until they are purged of it through baptism. In the center of the cross appears an image of the crucified Christ whose death redeemed the sinfulness of mankind. To either side of Christ, in a night sky and day sky, appear images of the sun and the moon—references to the creation of the universe and Christ's transcendence of the world into the heavenly realm. Above Christ appears a dove—the image of the Holy Spirit—who is surrounded by the billowing clouds of heaven—the state of perfection and salvation that a penitent soul achieves at its death.
A representation of the archangel Gabriel announcing to the Virgin Mary that she is to bear the Son of God by virtue of her pure and righteous state. A white dove representing the Holy Spirit who is about to miraculously impregnate the Virgin appears somewhere in the composition, often descending on the Virgin.
Depictions: 1999
A depiction of Christ as a child standing between the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. They are commonly illustrated holding hands. Sometimes the image of the Holy Spirit as a dove is descending upon the Christ Child as God the Father appears as a half-figure supported by a cloud and blessing the Holy Family below. The Holy Family is looked up to as an example of the perfect family and is prayed to for family matters.
Depictions: 1994
The Christ Child is depicted in pilgrim's garb and seated. A Mexican legend explains that during the Moorish occupation of Spain, Christian prisoners in the small town of Atocha were not allowed to be visited by anyone but children. One day a child dressed in pilgrims garb entered the prison with a basket of bread and a gourd filled with water. When the child left, the Moorish guards were amazed to see that every prisoner was fed and given water to drink although the child still left with some bread and water. The Christian soldiers, upon witnessing the miracle, recognized the miraculous child as the Christ Child. El Santo Niño de Atocha is often prayed to by prisoners, soldiers and their families.
A non-historical depiction of Christ, who bears the wounds of the Passion and Crucifixion but is not dead. Purely a devotional image, its emphasis is on the suffering Christ bore for the salvation of humankind and is an example of his undying love and devotion. This image is associated with penitence and, therefore, the Penitentes of New Mexico
Depictions: 1997
Christ nailed to the cross. The most important symbol of Christianity is the cross and its association with the forgiveness of sins through Christ's ultimate sacrifice to humankind. Sometimes Christ is depicted still alive, other times he is already dead. In New Mexico, the corpus of Christ is sometimes a light blue or gray hue, emphasizing the pallor death and the pain he experienced.
The Virgin Mary dressed in a brown robe, scapular, white cape and holding the Christ Child in one arm and a scapular in her other hand. The devotion to Nuestra Señora del Carmen was made popular by the Carmelite order of nuns and monks. The Marian devotion is prayed to in times of dire need, terminal illness and death for salvation of the soul. She is also prayed to against evil and for the salvation of the souls of Purgatory.
The Virgin Mary as she appears at the foot of the cross. Sometimes a single sword of sorrow—caused by a tragic event in her son's life—pierces her heart, while at other times seven swords of sorrow pierce her heart. Images of Our Lady of Sorrows were very popular in colonial Latin America.
A sixteenth-century image of the Immaculate Conception of Mary named after a popular Spanish Marian devotion that predates the Mexican Guadalupe. As legend has it, the Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian man, Juan Diego in 1531, just ten years after the conquest of the Aztecs and healed his ailing uncle. She requested that a church be built at the site of the apparition—a hill in Tepeyacoc, a sacred Aztec site. As the archbishop of Mexico did not believe Juan Diego's story initially, Juan Diego brought him a miraculously imprinted image of the Virgin on his cape a proof.
After eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, and thereby sinning against God, Adam and Eve were forced to leave Eden. Before they left, God made them loincloths of animal skins. To the east of the garden, wild animals and a fiery sword that moved in all directions protected the Tree of Life whose fruit bestows everlasting life on those who eat of it. In this depiction, Adam and Eve reluctantly leave Eden as an angel bearing a fiery sword expels them from the garden. Adam still holds the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and Eve steps forward, leading them to their new and difficult life together.
Esther was a young, beautiful Hebrew girl who became the wife of King Xerxes of Persia. The king’s prime minister, Haman, convinced the king to wage war against all the Hebrews in the kingdom which prompted Esther to act on behalf of her people. Over the course of two banquets to which she invited the king and Haman, Esther convinced her husband to spare the lives of the Hebrews. The king complied with Esther’s request and ordered Haman hanged on the gallows. In this depiction, Esther presents herself to King Xerxes in regal attire, and holds a cornucopia which is representative of the banquets she held.
Depictions: 2004
On his journey to Media, Tobias is escorted by the Archangel Raphael who acts as his guide and companion. One day they camped next to the Tigris River and Tobias walked down to its bank to wash his feet. As his did so a large fish jumped out of the water and tried to swallow his foot. Raphael instructed Tobias to grab the fish so that they may eat it and make an ointment from the gall bladder which later cured the blindness of Tobias’ elderly father, Tobit.
Depictions: 2004
Abraham sent his oldest servant to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac in the land from which Abraham came. In a city in Mesopotamia, the servant set his camels to rest at a well. He decided that the woman who would give him and his camels to drink from the well would be God’s chosen for Isaac. When Rebecca arrived with a water jar on her shoulder, the servant saw that she was very beautiful. She drew from the well and offered water to him and his camels. The servant immediately took a ring and placed it on her nose. He also place gold bracelets on her wrists. After explaining his purpose to Rebecca’s family, he took her back to Abraham and Isaac and she became Isaac’s wife.
Depictions: 2004
Because God was unpleased with the wickedness of humankind, he decided to flood the land and destroy all living creatures. But he spared Noah—who as the only righteous man on Earth—and his family by revealing his plan and instructing him to build a boat. Noah collected male and female pairs of every living animal and bird and put them on his boat. Noah was 600 years old when God flooded the land. All living creature but Noah, his family, and the animals he collected were spared, perished.
Depictions: 2004
God ordered Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to speak out against it, since its people were wicked in the eyes of God. Jonah, however, boarded a ship heading for Spain to flee from God and his task. On his journey, a great storm on the sea caused the men of the ship to throw Jonah overboard, since he revealed to them that God was punishing him for disobedience. When Jonah was thrown into the sea a large fish swallowed him and he remained inside the fish for three days where he called out to God. After three days, the fish spat up Jonah and Jonah made his way to Nineveh to carry out his task.
Depictions: 2004
Because Israel had sinned against God, God allowed the Canaanite king, Jabin, to conquer them. Sisera was the commander of Jabin’s army and led a campaign against the insurgent Israelites. Under the leadership of Barak, the Israelites led a military campaign against Sisera and his army. When the Israelites won the battle, Sisera escaped to Jael’s tent. Because Jael’s husband and his family were at peace with Jabin, Sisera trusted Jael, who gave him to drink. Sisera ordered her to watch over him while he slept, allowing no one to enter the tent. While he slept, however, Jael, took a wooden peg and a hammer, and drove the peg through Sisera’s head. The death of Sisera was a blow to the Canaanite’s and helped bring victory to the Israelites.
Depictions: 2004
Daniel was an advisor to the governors of King Darius of Persia and distinguished himself from other advisors and governors causing them great jealousy. Out of their disdain of Daniel, the convinced the king to pass a law that forbade anyone from requesting anything from any god for thirty days. Soon after, Daniel was arrested for praying to God. As his punishment, Daniel was cast into a den of lions overnight. However, as God favored Daniel, he sent an angel to shut the lions’ jaws. The following day, the king hurried to check on Daniel and found him unharmed. The king praised Daniel and punished his wrongdoer by throwing them and their families into the den of lions.
Depictions: 2004
On a journey to Mesopotamia Jacob (the son of Isaac, and grandson of Abraham), camped at a site in the wilderness. That night he dreamed of a staircase that reached into heaven. Angels walked up and down the staircase and God presented Himself to Jacob, promising him many descendants and rightful ownership of the land on which he slept. In turn, Jacob promised God that he would make him his God and give him a tenth of everything he owned if only God would protect and care for him.
Depictions: 2004
On night, as Jacob was preparing to meet his brother Esau, whom he believed would harm him, a man came to Jacob and began to wrestle with him before dawn. Upon seeing that Jacob was winning, the man struck Jacob on the hip and threw it out of joint. He told Jacob to let him go, and Jacob demanded that the man bless him. When he presented himself to the man, the man renamed him Israel since he had struggled with God and man and had won. Jacob was convinced that he had seen God, face-to-face in this encounter.
Depictions: 2004
While Moses was taking care of his father-in-law’s sheep, he led them to Sinai and saw a bush on fire. Because the bush was not consumed by the fire, Moses approached it to investigate. When he approached, God called Moses from the bush and instructed him to take off his sandals as he was on holy ground. He then revealed Himself to Moses and ordered him to approach the Egyptian pharaoh so that he could lead the Hebrews out of Egypt and to the promised land.
Depictions: 2004
God appeared to Abraham in the form of three men. When Abraham saw them, he ran to them and asked to serve them water and bread. He ordered his wife Sarah to bake some bread, and brought them cream, milk, and meat. When the men asked where Sarah was, Abraham replied that she was in his tent. One of the men declared that she was with child and would give birth in nine months. Hearing this, Sarah laughed since she was already old. The men, however, declared that nothing is impossible for God. Nine months later she gave birth to Isaac. In this scene, Abraham prostrates himself before the three men. Their wings indicate that their divinity.
Depictions: 2004
After the Creation, God saw that Adam was lonely and cast him into a deep sleep. While Adam slept, God took one of Adam's ribs and formed a woman out of the rib. Upon seeing Eve, Adam saw that she was a fitting companion for him and called her woman. In this depiction, God pulls Eve out of Adam’s side while Adam sleeps.
Depictions: 2004
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