George Lopez, San Antonio de Padua, 1975, carved cottonwood and cedar, 19 1⁄2 x 6 1⁄2 x 6 1⁄2 in. (49.5 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.70
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Artwork Details
- Title
- San Antonio de Padua
- Artist
- Date
- 1975
- Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 19 1⁄2 x 6 1⁄2 x 6 1⁄2 in. (49.5 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm.)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- carved cottonwood and cedar
- Classifications
- Subjects
- Figure group — male and child
- Emblem — cross
- Religion — saint — St. Anthony
- Object Number
- 1997.124.70
Artwork Description
George Lopez was influenced by Los Hermanos Penitentes (the Penitent Brothers), a group of Franciscans whose processions he watched go by his house every year during Holy Week. San Antonio de Padua is the patron of the church near Lopez’s home in Cordova, New Mexico, and San Francisco represents the founder of the Franciscan order. Lopez worked in the “Cordova” style to create these sculptures, showing details in different shades of wood instead of paint. Their humble clothing and peaceful expressions suggest that the artist believed true faith could be achieved through living a simple life.