DepartmentHispano

San Ramon Nonato

NameRetablo

Artist Artist Not Recorded

Place madeNEW MEXICO, United States, Southwest, North America

MediumTempera over yeso ground onsmoothly hand-adzed or planed pine panel.

Dimensions27.5 x 20.5 to 21.2 cm, 1 to1.5 cm thick

Credit LineGift of the Historical Society of New Mexico

Object numberA5.1952.73

ProvenanceSame source as A5.1952.55: Purchased with a lot or retablos form Julius Gans, June 1952 [See A5.1952.55 record]

DescriptionFigure has usual attributes of this Saint, general color scheme black and yellow with red touches on yeso white. Now the heavy golden overall color gives the "golden glow" sometimes found on santos, referred to by Frank Applegate, but not necessarily as stated by him, "a characteristic of Miguel Aragon." This is presumably a native varnish, probably rosin, (pine pitch dissolved with some wax by local methods), which did not darken the colors under the opaque and sticky films common to commercial varnishes and to some native ones. The manner of drawing is nondescript and not presently identifiable. The only comparable panel as to mannerisms is NFD-R-37,of the same saint. In the latter the bold blacks of the scalloped border on A5.1952.73, as well as in eyes, tonsure,etc., are absent. NFD-R-37 is drawn in dark brown outlines with timid wispy strokes. The character of drawing the hands, like boneless buds on a brussel sprout, and a noticeable sag in the stance and supine of the figure, are present in both panels. In time, further exmples of this type may appear to form a study series. (1964--they have! EB) 1930 sale price, $8.00