19th C. Mexican Polychrome Wood Santo of Saint Michael the Archangel

North America, Mexico, Spanish Colonial tradition. A carved and painted wooden santo of Saint Michael the Archangel, shown in mid-stride on a rectangular yellow plinth. The prince of the heavenly host wears the short tunic of a Roman soldier, painted with small red, green, and blue flowers. Bands of copper-based metallic paint, not gold leaf, imitate the shine of gilding. A red cape sweeps forward across his body. His dark hair falls loose, his black boots are firmly planted, and his raised right fist probably once held a sword against the rebel angels. Two large wings, black with red feather stripes, open wide behind him. One is fixed with a visible wooden peg. The figure was probably made for a home altar or a local chapel, where small saints like this received prayers, candles, and the occasional gentle plea. Saint Michael is the warrior archangel of the Book of Revelation, who leads the heavenly armies against the dragon and throws it out of heaven. Christian tradition also casts him as the one who weighs souls at the Last Judgment. Sculptors usually show him with a raised sword, often with scales in his other hand and a defeated demon under his feet. This carver reduced the scene to the archangel alone, letting the raised arm and the spread wings carry the drama. In Mexico, Michael (San Miguel Arcángel) was one of the most popular saints in both churches and homes. Many towns, and the major pilgrimage shrine of San Miguel del Milagro in Tlaxcala, are named after him. Small santos like this one were made by local carvers (santeros) for household altars. Their work often traded academic polish for direct, lively expression. The metallic paint reflects a common workshop choice. Powdered copper or copper alloys mixed into a binder could imitate the glow of gold leaf for much less money, and without the skilled preparation that true gilding requires. These pigments age to a warmer, slightly duller tone than gold, which accounts for the honey-colored shine on this archangel's tunic and cape. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 206281

Estimation:€267.7

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