San Antonio y el Nino

Copied Lares group, San Antonio y el Nino, ca. 1875-1900, carved and painted wood, 15 3⁄4 x 6 x 4 3⁄4 in. (40.0 x 15.3 x 12.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.43
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
San Antonio y el Nino
Artist
Lares group
Date
ca. 1875-1900
Location
Dimensions
15 3⁄4 x 6 x 4 3⁄4 in. (40.0 x 15.3 x 12.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Teodoro Vidal Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood
Classifications
Keywords
  • Religion — New Testament — Christ
  • Religion — saint — St. Anthony
Object Number
1996.91.43
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1996.91.43

Artwork Description

In this santo the carver created tension by contrasting the saint's delicate gesture with the child's fidgeting. The image of the Christ child in the saint's arms represents the most famous incident in St. Anthony's story, when the infant Jesus appeared to him in a vision. In representations, Anthony often appears startled, as if the child has mysteriously materialized in his hands. Here the infant looks as if he might slip out of the saint's arms at any moment.