La Virgen y el Nino

Lares group, La Virgen y el Nino, ca. 1875-1900, carved and painted wood, metal, and string, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.44
Lares group, La Virgen y el Nino, ca. 1875-1900, carved and painted wood, metal, and string, 15 1⁄8 x 5 1⁄2 x 5 3⁄8 in. (38.3 x 14.0 x 13.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.44
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Artwork Details

Title
La Virgen y el Nino
Artist
Lares group
Date
ca. 1875-1900
Location
Dimensions
15 1⁄8 x 5 1⁄2 x 5 3⁄8 in. (38.3 x 14.0 x 13.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Teodoro Vidal Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood, metal, and string
Classifications
Subjects
  • Religion — New Testament — Christ
  • Religion — New Testament — Mary
Object Number
1996.91.44
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1996.91.44

Artwork Description

This santo shows the Virgin Mary supporting the Christ child on her forearm. The curved lines of her costume and deep grooves defining her long strands of hair create a sense of physical energy, and the stippled dots typify the Lares group's playful decoration. A milagro (a small token, often of a body part, that represents a miracle of healing) hangs from her right hand as an offering of thanks from a worshiper. As with many santos, this figure's original symbols, which were probably held in her hands, have been lost.