- Santo (art)
"Santo" (from the Spanish word meaning "
saint ") is a traditional New Mexicangenre of religioussculpture . The word "santo" is also used to refer to individual works in this genre. Santos are carvings, either in wood or ivory, that depict saints,angel s, or other religious figures.Icon s and other religious images were crucial for the conversion of indigenous peoples to Roman Catholicism, which was itself an integral part of theSpanish colonization of the Americas . However, long distances, inefficient methods of transportation, and high demand for such artworks limited the ability of ecclesiastical authorities to supply parish churches, especially those in remote outposts, with "official" works of religious art fromSpain .The first santos are thought to have been imitations of Spanish
Baroque statue s carved bypriest s. Later santos were influenced by native styles. They became popular items of devotion, found from homealtar s to churches, whence they sometimes attractedpilgrim s.Originally common throughout
Latin America and theCaribbean , the tradition of santo carving was preserved as afolk art inNorthern New Mexico , whose isolated villages remain secluded to this day.Later imitations of colonial-era carvings are sometimes called "Santo artform".
External links
*" [http://www.getty.edu/vow/AATFullDisplay?find=santo&logic=AND¬e=&english=N&prev_page=1&subjectid=300264080 Santos] " at the "Getty Thesaurus of Art and Architecture"
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