San Juan Nepomuceno

Felipe de la Espada, San Juan Nepomuceno, late 18th-early 19th century, carved and painted wood, 9 3⁄8 x 3 5⁄8 x 2 3⁄4 in. (23.7 x 9.3 x 7.0 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.38
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Artwork Details

Title
San Juan Nepomuceno
Artist
Date
late 18th-early 19th century
Location
Dimensions
9 3⁄8 x 3 5⁄8 x 2 3⁄4 in. (23.7 x 9.3 x 7.0 cm.)
Credit Line
Teodoro Vidal Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Religion — saint — St. John
Object Number
1996.91.38
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1996.91.38

Artwork Description

Saint John Nepomuk is represented in this santo with a tilted head, placid expression, and outstretched arms to convey the great compassion for which he was venerated throughout the Spanish colonies. Saint John was born in the town of Nepomuk in today’s Czech Republic. He became the vicar-general of Prague, but King Wenceslaus IV had him thrown from a bridge into the river Moldau in 1393 when John refused to reveal details of the queen’s confession. After he was made a saint in 1729, John’s popularity spread throughout Europe and the New World, where priests eagerly promoted the veneration of the patron saint of confession. In certain regions St. John also served as the patron saint of irrigation, bridges, and other engineering projects. (Andrew Connors, “José Campeche’s San Juan Nepomuceno,” American Art, Summer 1997)

Works by this artist (1036 items)

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William H. Johnson, Breakdown with Flat Tire, ca. 1940-1941, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.587
Breakdown with Flat Tire
Artist
Dateca. 1940-1941
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, Chain Gang, ca. 1939, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.675
Chain Gang
Artist
Dateca. 1939
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, Midnight Sun, Lofoten, 1937, oil on burlap, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.907
Midnight Sun, Lofoten
Artist
Date1937
oil on burlap
On view
William H. Johnson, Lamentation, ca. 1944, oil on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.981
Lamentation
Artist
Dateca. 1944
oil on fiberboard
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

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William H. Johnson, Tunisian Street Scene with Figures, ca. 1932, watercolor and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.38
Tunisian Street Scene with Figures
Artist
Dateca. 1932
watercolor and pencil on paper
Not on view
Edward Morton, Loggers, 1937, watercolor and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1974.28.150
Loggers
Artist
Date1937
watercolor and pencil on paper
Not on view
Terry Schoonhoven, Study for Morning Room Murals, U. S. Court of Appeals, Pasadena, California, 1984, watercolor, pen and ink, and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1987.13.1
Study for Morning Room Murals, U. S. Court of Appeals,…
Artist
Date1984
watercolor, pen and ink, and pencil on paper
Not on view
Image Not Available
Stone Cutters (mural study, Rockport, Massachusetts Post…
Artist
Dateca. 1935-1943
watercolor, pencil and pen and ink on paperboard
Not on view