The Virgin of Carmen - Mary holding the Christ Child

Artist: Puerto Rican School.
Title: The Virgin of Carmen - Mary holding the Christ Child.
Date: 19th Century.
Medium: Wood and Polychrome Paint.
Size: Height 19 cm x Width 8.5 cm x Depth 4.5 cm.
Condition: Minor paint loss and wear, including a crack to the back of the figure all of which are commensurate with age and use.
Provenance: Private Collection Sydney Australia.

About: The Virgin of Carmen, (Virgin del Carmen in Spanish) depicts Mary holding the Christ Child and is part of the history of Puerto Rican Santos figures, and can be traced back to the arrival of Spanish missionaries in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The missionaries spread God's word by telling stories animated and illustrated with carved Santos.

Beyond its religious significance, this Santos figure offers a unique glimpse into the cultural heritage of Puerto Rico. The island's long history of blending European, African, and indigenous Taino influences. Crafted from indigenous tropical hardwood with a natural patina and antiquity.