17th Century Polychrome Carved Timber Santos Figure of Saint Mary

 

A beautifully rendered santos figure of Saint Mary from the 17th Century. Likely originating in Guatemala the figure depicts Mary, mother of Jesus in a white dress with a red and blue mantle. It can be confidently said the figure is of Mary as throughout art history Mary is largely clothed in a red and blue mantle, and has been since as early as 500AD. The colour blue due to its pigments being so valuable left it reserved for high nobility and wealth, and therefore it is seen as apt to swathe the virgin Mary in what is now known as 'marian' blue. The figure is presented with the absence of both hands, now lost to time, however it is possible that the hands were souvenired in a century gone by.

Dimensions - 27.5cm H