Santo (art)

Santo (art)

"Santo" (from the Spanish word meaning "saint") is a traditional New Mexican genre of religious sculpture. 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, angels, or other religious figures.

Icons and other religious images were crucial for the conversion of indigenous peoples to Roman Catholicism, which was itself an integral part of the Spanish 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 from Spain.

The first santos are thought to have been imitations of Spanish Baroque statues carved by priests. Later santos were influenced by native styles. They became popular items of devotion, found from home altars to churches, whence they sometimes attracted pilgrims.

Originally common throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, the tradition of santo carving was preserved as a folk art in Northern 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&note=&english=N&prev_page=1&subjectid=300264080 Santos] " at the "Getty Thesaurus of Art and Architecture"


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Santo (disambiguation) — Santo means saint in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. It may also refer to:People*Santo Mazzarino, Italian historian *Santo Santoro, Australian politician *Santo Farina of the Italian American rock and roll duo Santo Johnny *Audrey Santo, a young …   Wikipedia

  • Santo Domingo de la Calzada — Santo Domingo de la Calzada …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Santo domingo de la calzada — Données générales Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Art Barr — Nacimiento 8 de octubre de 1966 Portland, Oregón Defunción 23 de noviembre de 1994 Springfield, Oregón Nombres artísticos …   Wikipedia Español

  • Santo Stefano degli Abissini — Kirchengebäude, Außenansicht Daten Ort Vatikanstadt Baujahr …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Santo & Johnny — were an Italian American rock and roll duo from Brooklyn comprised of brothers Santo and Johnny Farina. They are best known for their instrumental Sleep Walk, which became a regional hit and eventually reached #1 on the pop charts when it was… …   Wikipedia

  • Santo Niño de Atocha — statue The Santo Niño de Atocha is a Roman Catholic depiction of the Child Jesus and is popular in the Hispanic cultures of Spain, Mexico, Philippines and the southwestern United States, especially New Mexico …   Wikipedia

  • Santo Aleixo da Restauração — Wappen Karte …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Santo Amador — Wappen Karte …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Santo Condestável — Wappen Karte …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”