St. Paul
Center of the main
altar, church at Huitzo,
Oaxaca,
Mexico
Wood, gesso, paint;
glass
eyes; fabric garments, metal halo and sword; paper scroll; approx. 5
feet
tall.
St. Paul (Scroll,
long
Spanish
sword, beard, halo, ring on index finger; white robe, red cape).
The point of the sword
rests
on the floor and the saint holds it somewhat as one might a walking
stick.
The rolled paper scroll is held forth in the left hand, on the right
index
finger of which a golden ring has been placed. The saint is shown in
middle
age and has an ascetic, high-boned face and a full, oval beard. The
garments
are the same color as the unidentified saint at the left of the altar:
white robe, red cape, gold cincture. The design on the cape is of
appliquéd
gold lamé, like the bib of the Carmen
which is also in the sanctuary and may be from the same hand. The altar
was designed to accommodate only this one statue.
More of St. Paul
Photographed at the
site by Claire and Richard Stracke