Description:

Donated By: Donick Cary, Emmy-Award winning writer/producer (Letterman /Simpsons / Parks and Recreation /Silicon Valley)

New World, Mexico, Spanish Colonial, ca. 19th century CE. A brightly painted folk art nicho, built from wood and with a tall pedestal painted to have a bell hanging from its apex. Open the wood-framed glass door of the nicho and inside you will find an interesting and rather uniquely-posed santo depicting the Virgin Mary standing atop a crescent moon. Her draped clothing is exquisitely carved and her head is capped by a crown. Our Lady of Guadalupe is often depicted with the crescent moon upturned beneath her feet; Rubens' Baroque altarpiece painting, Mondsichelmadonna (Madonna on the Crescent Moon), is an example of this iconography from Freising Cathedral in Germany. This powerful symbolism has obviously spoken to many religious people throughout time. Size: 10.9" L x 20" W x 28" H (27.7 cm x 50.8 cm x 71.1 cm)

The nicho itself is painted largely a pale pink, with white, grey, and red details and two faux columns framing its door. The back and sides are undecorated, allowing us to imagine it being placed into an altar with only its front exposed to the viewer. Folk art religious expressions like this one, carved by individual worshippers who may not have been professional artists, speak to the importance of venerating the saints in Spanish Colonial-influenced 19th century Mexico.

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: private D. C. collection, California, USA; D. C. is an Emmy Award winning Hollywood writer and Executive Producer, collected before 2000

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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#126513

  • Condition: Expected wear on surface from age and handling, with small areas of loss to pigment as shown. Santo has areas of loss to paint and some craquelure as shown, with small areas of overpainting, as is very common with santos. Glass on nicho is new, as is loop and hook for closing it.Old losses to flat terminus. Minor surface scratches. Flute works beautifully.

    ______________________________

    Making music happen since 2009…

    Today, Musack's mission is to give kids and teens a voice through music by providing guitars, drums, and support for music teachers - wherever the need arises.

    But back in 2009, Emmy-Award winning writer/producer Donick Cary (Letterman /Simpsons / Parks and Recreation /Silicon Valley) began Musack with a simple vision - raise money to fund musical programs for his hometown high school on Nantucket Island. After a rash of teen suicides on the island, Donick thought about how he and his friends got through their teen years. Music.

    Musack continues to make music happen around the world with support from people like you. All lots offered for sale in today’s fundraising auction have been donated by celebrities, non-celebrities, and local businesses. Help us help our kids - bid high, bid often!

    Donick Cary
    President, Musack.org

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October 5, 2017 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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