DepartmentHispano

San Geronimo / Saint Jerome

NameRetablo

Artist Pedro Antonio Fresquis (1749-1831)

Date1780–1825

Place madeNew Mexico, United States, Southwestern, North America

Mediumwood (pine), tempera, gesso

Dimensions9 13/16 × 7 1/16 in. (25 × 18 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, Gift of Mr. Carter H. Harrison, Jr., A8.1959.20

Object numberA8.1959.20

DescriptionSaint is in an usual red mantle draped over bare body-commonly denoting the costume of a desert hermit among New Mexico santeros. He holds a crucifix -drawn in very typical Calligraphic fashion, in right hand and what appears to be the usual stone of mortification and penance in the left hand- now smeared over with red. Instead of the traditional lion, he kneels upon a scaly armadillo-type dragon with clawed feet and a tail looped into a knot and ending with a triangular point. Other panels of San Geronimo in New Mexico show him with a burro, with a partridge, and various demon-types, some of which have animal forms and human faces.
At left of Saint’s head (right of panel) is the trumpet, symbol of the voice of God- here painted red. At Saint’s right (left of panel) is a red tree on top of which perches a bird in profile- much like the larger road-runner above the tree in Calligraphic’s Flight Into Egypt (owned by Eleanor Bedell). Three red rosettes, of varied sizes at top seem to denote the Trinity. Heavy scallops of red, black and blue form a continuous border to panel and red flame or seed pod motifs act as space fillers.